Letters, I get letters…
My recent blog posts and newsletters on listening to God’s calling, following your passion, etc. have prompted many of you to get in touch. What if you don’t know what your passion is? What if your “dream job” is wearing you out? Where is the line between contentment and passion? Between rest and boredom? The stories and questions are challenging and inspiring.

A reader named Becky, after reading my book Listen, wrote to share her story.  With her permission, here’s an edited version of her story:

Knowing I am searching for significance, a dear friend gave me your book "Listen." I’m 44 years old, and a year ago my health crashed. I have been slowing climbing up with God’s help. I can't tell you how your writing is so on target for what I am going through. I battle mentally everyday because I am not out "working" making money. I recently starting drawing again and got into a gallery. Nothing has sold yet ...

One of my problems is I don't know what my deepest desire is. God has given me lots of talents/gifts and I don't know which one to pursue. I am most happy when I am outside. I have started a garden.

All I want to do is garden, read, write and paint. Is that ok? I’m married (20 years) but I feel guilty because I don’t earn money. I feel I must follow this path of finding who I am. I lost myself a long time ago and if I don't find it now, I may never. We have two teenagers which will be leaving soon. I have been a people pleaser most my life. I am trying to break free of fear.

Thank you for writing this book. I will have to read it over and over because there are so many good things in it. Thank you!

Becky

I think Becky is very typical of many of us who, at midlife, realize that we have spent so much of our lives taking care of others that we are not even sure who we are or what we love. And yet, take a look at the photos Becky sent me of her artwork.

She’s oozing with talent. But sometimes we discount our own abilities, thinking they don’t have value. Or we think that being an artist isn’t practical.

Some of us need encouragement to follow our dreams. But you have to dream the dream before you can follow it, so I wrote back to Becky to encourage her to dream. Here’s some of what I wrote to her:

“Keep asking God to direct your steps, to show you the way.
I will say this, though: I have found that when I am working, not just volunteering but working for pay, even if it is small, it has helped my self-esteem tremendously. You said your drawings got into a gallery--that's so terrific! It's a huge accomplishment. Now, what if you were to find a job in a gallery? You obviously know a lot about art.

Having your own money and your own accomplishments will build your confidence. I'm not suggesting you go out and get a high-powered career in the corporate world--that doesn't sound like a good fit for you at all. But you love to read and paint and garden. So put in an application at your local bookstore, or garden center, or library, or art gallery. Or apply at all of them, and see where God leads you.”

I suggested that if she were to work outside the home, even for only a few hours a week, she’d need to get her teenage children and husband to take on some of the housework that she’s been doing. And that she keep at least part of her paycheck to spend or give as she likes, without guilt. I suggested she check out my blog posts on “chore wars” which chronicles how we've been working through these issues at my house as well. check it out at www.keriwyattkent.blogspot.com

Becky wrote back to say that this time of life is one where “we are truly becoming someone we haven’t been before.”

I agree. People talk about mid-life as a time of crisis, but I think it is more a time of awakening—a time when we can actually begin to consider—who am I and what is it that I love? As Becky said, “I don’t know what my deepest desire is.” But this is the time to discover that—by trying different things.

A friend of mine who is my age (same as Becky’s) recently started working at a health club. Before that, she’d tried running her own business but didn’t really enjoy it. But she loves working for someone else. She’s getting involved in marketing, and other aspects of running the business. She loves the respect her colleagues give her, the money she earns, and how her being gone forty hours a week has forced her family to step up and take on more of the household chores. She’s more confident, in better physical health (free exercise classes!). She’s becoming more of herself.

In her second note, Becky wrote “I have a very bold side of me and a very scared side of me, but I will see where God leads me. That’s what it always seems comes back to, completely leaning on him.”

She’s right. We need to lean on God. But to walk forward, even as we lean. God supports and guides as we move forward. As I told Becky: Do you know which command from God is repeated most often in scripture? It's "do not be afraid." Live boldly!

Until next time,

Keri

Book Reviews

Quotable Quote

“What is your desire? What do you want to do that can simultaneously embrace what you love and move toward redeeming your struggles? God calls through our loves and our struggles for us to meet the world’s needs. He has something for you to do—a holy calling. And your desire tells you the most about it.”

                ~Keri Wyatt Kent, Listen: Finding God in the Story of Your Life

Deeper Connection

When we talk about calling, many people find themselves temporarily paralyzed with fear—what if I do something that is not my true calling? Well, if you don’t do anything, you haven’t found your calling either. So moving forward, trying something, is always a step toward discovering who you really are. By simply trying something, anything, you are taking the first step on the journey. What would it take for you to discover what your deepest, truest desires are? Perhaps willingness to discover what your calling is not is the first step.

Connecting with Keri

Keri is also a part of the Boomer Babes Rock blog team (what a great group of women!) at www.boomerbabesrock.com/blog check it out. She posts on Thursdays.

June 5, 2007

Connecting with
Keri Wyatt Kent

Check Out Keri's New  Blog
Deep Breathing for the Soul
 

Table of Contents
	A Note from Keri
	Book Review
	Quotable Quote
	Deeper Connection
	Connecting with Keri
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