Sep 14

Written by: glendajoy
9/14/2008 9:47 PM

Sometime during the Cummins Station event (that I spoke about in the blog entitled, PureJoy's Big Adventure, Part 1), I heard about a Women’s Fair at a local church. I thought, Why not? Set up for that was actually in the evening of one of the days I had a booth in Cummins Station. It made for a crazy, work-filled day that left me overwhelmed with a headache, wondering 'what in the world am I doing here?'. That evening as I set up at my booth in the church, a man walked by and was carefully looking at the framed images I was setting up. He was a stranger to me, but I thought it was so kind of him just to stop and look.  The short time he spent talking to me was one of the highlights of this last year. It was a perfect, personal example to me of how much power we wield with the spoken word.   

After looking over everything I had to offer, he complimented my work, and then gave me a strong word of encouragement. Inspired words that could have only come from a person who understood the fragile limb I had been standing on for the past few months. And as it turned out, he was a professional photographer. That blessed me mightily. Not just the compliments, but the encouragement to keep going, to keep doing what I cannot do. 

So, Stan, if you happen to read these words, thank you from the depths of my heart. And if you are someone else, know this: your words are very, very powerful. Use them carefully, and joyfully. Our words can cause someone’s dream to flourish, or to wither. 

As I look back over the last 10 months of this adventure, I can count on two hands the times that I knew God had sent someone to assure me that I was walking (or stumbling) in the right direction.  The man I have just spoken about was one of them.  I have days every now and then when I think- 'What in the world am I doing?'.  And everytime I do, there will be one of those divine sign posts with an big arrow pointing in the direction I am going.  I need those signs.  I need those words of encouragement.  And my guess is, so does everyone that is reading this.  We all want to know we are headed in the right direction.  And for me, I don't even have to understand why, I just need to know I am pointed the right way.  Then, I can walk (fall or crawl) forward as the adventure continues- not necessarily confident in myself- but confident in the One who is leading me.  What I am discovering is that this wonderful adventure that I wake up to each day, is less about me and more about what is happening through me.  I want to be a giant firehose of encouragement and blessing to others.  I want to be a divine signpost for others pointing them in the right direction.  I want to be a cheerleader sitting in the stands of others yelling out words that will cheer them on.  I don't have aspirations to be the world's greatest photographer. But, I do want to be one who captures some of the wonder of God in digital form for others to see and to enjoy. 

This saga continues in another blog that is coming soon...

Copyright ©2008 glenda clark

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