Kintsukuroi

At this moment there are about 100 other things I need to be doing. But after the morning (and afternoon) I've had, the most IMPORTANT thing to do at this time is WRITE about how INSPIRED I have become.

This morning I attended a brunch featuring women who were willing to share their stories and knowledge with others (like myself) so that we too could get to the lives that God has purposed for us. The PowHERful Brunch was the exact name.

There were no gimmicks or "get rich quick" tips...there were simply testimonies of where these women have come from, how they got to where they are today, and again...how WE can get to where WE are desiring to go.

There were authors, entrepreneurs, a woman in the entertainment industry, all in a room FULL of ENCOURAGEMENT. These women were of various backgrounds but the one thing that they shared in common was that they LISTENED TO GOD. What He said DO, they DID...sometimes reluctantly because His direction didn't always make sense, but ultimately they were OBEDIENT, and as a result, He has BLESSED them and their endeavors.

I gotta tell ya...I wasn't sure what to expect when I paid a couple weeks ago to attend today's event. Wasn't sure if I could financially afford to go. Wasn't really sure what I was going to get out of it...wasn't really sure what I wanted to get out of it. But...God knew.

I arrived this morning EMPTY.

I had eaten breakfast, so I'm not speaking of a physical emptiness. I'm speaking however, in terms of an emotional, mental emptiness.

With the recent changes in my life (that only a small few even know about), I have struggled...mostly with DEPRESSION, but with a host of other feelings as well. SHAME ranks pretty high up there on the list. I know that there is LOTS for me to be doing, yet I have not had the WILL to do ANY of it.

It's been said that "you can't pour from an empty cup." Well, my cup has not only been EMPTY, but CRACKED...so even if anything went into the cup it would've leaked out. As a result, I've poured NOTHING in.

So yes...although I arrived with a smile on my face (the same fake smile I've been passing on to everyone for MONTHS), I wasn't smiling much on the inside.

Until...

The brunch began.

Now when I think of "brunch" I immediately think of FOOD. Yes, there was food (DELICIOUS food I might add), but along with the FOOD were the INCREDIBLY AMAZING panelists. And even before the panelists began to speak, a lovely young lady rendered Mariah Carey's "Through The Rain" to us in sign language. It was simply BEAUTIFUL.

The panelists began to speak, and as they did, not only did I hear God speak to me with regard to what I need to do...but He SHOWED me what I WILL do as I watched and listened to each of the women. What THEY were doing is what I will do.

He told me that I have a story, and that MY story is meant to INSPIRE others as the ones that I was hearing today were inspiring me. He assured me that there is ROOM for me and what I have to say, so I don't need to worry that so many others are already doing it. THEIR story is not MINE and MINE (just as theirs) NEEDS to be told...in a setting just like the one we were in today. A setting with women (and even men) who can be HELPED by what I have to say.

YES, I can ENCOURAGE.
YES, I can INSPIRE.
YES, I can MOTIVATE.

And...I WILL.

I read online that "when the Japanese mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold. They believe that when something's suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful."

That, I believe, is what God is doing to me. He is "filling my cracks" with gold. Interestingly, the cracks will still be visible, and that's okay. Every crack has its own story so I wouldn't want them to be made invisible. The visible cracks will be a constant reminder of where I have come from, and gone through, lest I forget. That's a BLESSING. And now...I can hold what's needed, instead of having it all leak out. NOW, I can pour into others from a FULL cup.

No, my "situation" has not magically changed from this morning until now. I still need help (LOTS of it), but I can say that I now have hope that I didn't have this morning. I've experienced a shift in my thinking and that, I believe, will bring about change in other areas of my life that so greatly need it.

Ok...enough about me.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What goals are YOU pursuing? What's YOUR purpose? Are you functioning in that purpose yet, or still working your way there. If you haven't gotten there yet, keep pressing, stay encouraged, and allow me to cheer you on along the way.

Talk to me!

Til next time...