Small Beginnings

When was the last time you considered trying something new?

Fifteen months ago I had the privilege of meeting someone pivotal to my life and I’ve been in race car mode since then.  That someone is my life coach.

In the beginning of my engagement with her, she had the audacity to take me at my word as she listened to me lay out the puzzle pieces of my heart’s passion on her dining room table.  As a result, exciting things I never knew were lurking in my heart began to be called forth as she asked the probing questions, challenged my thinking, and cheered me on as I discovered new expressions of who God created me to be.

A year plus later I am writing again. I have completed studies for my Advanced Christian Life Coach certification (who’d a thunk?!). And through my coaching relationship I was introduced to the meaningful and life-changing power of ‘story’ through a life mapping process called “Listen to My Life.” I recently completed training as a facilitator of this wonderful tool and look forward to sharing with others the richness it affords, as time and God allows.

While one might think ‘that all sounds just hunky dory and goody for you,’ it did not come without a cost. During this same time period the Christian non-profit I work for went through the most difficult of the nearly seven years I have been employed there. Downsizing hit hard, staff decreased while workload increased, and our little prayer room at the office never got so much use!

As I look back over 2009 to present day, it cramps my brain to think of how it all got done. Perseverance and endurance became my companions (not to mention my massage therapist!).

But above all, I had to practice what I’ve been preaching in this blog. To guard my heart and deal with my own wellspring so that ‘joy unspeakable and full of glory’ could become not just a verse I quote, but the reality of my life.

These days, I may be tired and love the soft thud of my head hitting the pillow at night, but I am having the time of my life! God is pacing me, for which I am very grateful. Though I have accused Him at times of being as slow as molasses, sweet honey from The Rock oozes out just at the right time and in the right quantity.

God delights in providing us a ‘space of grace’ to learn and grow. And once in a while in a ‘perfect storm’ kind of way, He brings someone into our life that points at our small plot of land, sees some little green shoots and asks “what’cha growin’?” Well, let me tell ya…!

I pray you, too, will no longer be content to just sit and watch the corn grow. There’s a heart in you that isn’t fully unpacked yet. If you need a swift kick in the overalls, I know a few good coaches!

Nancy Charlene

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.” Psalm 40:3 NIV