Beth K. Vogt's Blog, page 44
March 2, 2016
In Others’ Words: Finding the Right Place and Standing Firm
I remember the first time someone called me “narrow-minded.”
Now, when I say “the first time,” please don’t get the idea that this happens often. It doesn’t. As a matter of fact, I can’t remember the last time someone called me “narrow-minded,” but I do recall the first time.
I was shocked. Me? Narrow-minded?
I called my good friend Robyn and told her what happened. Her response was quick — straight to the point.
“You’re not narrow-minded, Beth.” Her voice was calm, soothing my unsettled emotions. “You’ve just thought some things through and made up your mind what you believe about them.”
And she was right. There are some things I believe — about God, for example, or about family. My beliefs didn’t come easily — as a matter of fact, some of my beliefs have cost me greatly. I’ve wrestled with them, discussed them with other people, read books by people I agree with and people I don’t agree with … and I’ve made up my own mind where I’m putting my feet, so to speak, and I’m standing firm.
If someone wants to define making a final, well-thought out decision about what you believe as narrow-mindedness, that’s their choice. But that’s not the correct definition of the word.
We have to stand for something, don’t we? We have to search for truth until we find it … and then both protect it and defend it. We have to decide what we value — be it honesty or grace or kindness or courage — and then stand firm in our convictions. Doing so isn’t narrow-mindness. It’s a choice to live a life that’s founded on something that outlasts our circumstances or our emotional ups and downs.
In Your Words: Where have you “put your feet” and decided to stand firm? What do you value?
In Others’ Words: Finding the Right Place and Standing Firm #InOthersWords #Lifequotes #choices
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“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” #AbrahamLincoln #quotes #choices
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February 29, 2016
In Others’ Words: Patience and the Willingness to Stay
Sometimes the situations we are in don’t change. We look and we look, and there’s no door marked EXIT.
Okay, yes, I’ll make this blog post personal.
I’m dealing with several ongoing situations that, by definition — ongoing, right? — haven’t changed. Circumstances haven’t budged for months.
Chronic health issues? Still here.
Strained relationships? Still here.
Some things I can’t fix. I can’t demand an end date. I’m on hold … waiting … learning patience, yes. Or, as Henri Nouwen said: I’m learning to be willing to stay where I am and live these situations out to the full believing that something hidden here will be revealed.
Willingness is an odd combination of faith in God’s presence in the midst of these difficulties and releasing my preconceived ideas about my life. Holding on to trust and letting go of expectations. An uneasy balance, that.
One of the things I’ve learned in all this waiting is to stop being so quick to take the blame for everything … and to stop being just as quick to cast blame. Shouldering blame or expecting someone else to bear the burden of blame are equal sins. I’ve taken far too much credit for far too many problems, which has separated me from God, from others, and from a true estimation of myself.
Yes, I need to own up to my wrong actions. But guilt is not a mandatory and I do not need to carry that weight every time someone offers it to me.
And the waiting times? That’s often when God does His best work in my life — if I let Him.
In Your Words: What hidden things have been revealed to you during times of waiting?
In Others’ Words: Patience and the Willingness to Stay #InOthersWords #lifequotes #patience
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“A waiting person is a patient person … ” #HenriNouwen #patience #quotes
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February 24, 2016
In Others’ Words: Once Upon a Childhood
There are books everywhere in my house.
When e-readers came on the scene, my husband encouraged me to get one. His hope? That the multiple To Be Read (TBR) piles would disappear into virtual oblivion.
Um, no. That did not happen.
My Kindle is loaded and ready to go on trips with me … and the TBR piles continue to thrive throughout the rooms of my home.
And now … well, now I have two precious GRANDgirls and all the more reason to unpack books that I once read to my children so that I can read them out loud again. And yes, of course there are new books to buy and expand my collection of children’s books.
Reading books was one of the best parts of my childhood. I discovered new places and peoples and days gone by and days yet to be between the covers of books. And through reading, I first began dreaming of becoming a writer.
I wanted that same kind of joy for my children … the discovery of worlds beyond here and now … flights of imagination that invited them to dream and to dare and to hope and to be brave and yes, to laugh. And now I’m sharing that joy once again with my grandchildren.
Joy discovered and shared and multiplied … all within the pages of books.
In Your Words: What books took you to “enchanted places” where your imagination ran free and you discovered the joy of a story?
In Others’ Words: Once Upon a Childhood #InOthersWords #lifequotes #childhood
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“A childhood without books – that would be no childhood … ” #quotes #AstridLindgren #childhood
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February 22, 2016
In Others’ Words: Choosing Something Other Than Difficulties
Didn’t I just post about difficulties last week?
Yes, yes, I did.
The return to the theme of difficulties was unpremeditated today. I was flipping through a new book of quotes — a combo coloring book and quote book, no less — and discovered this one by Stephen Hawking.
I like the quote for it’s brevity. I like it for the hope it offers. And I like it because Stephen Hawking, a world-renowned physicist diagnosed with a slow-progressing form of ALS, lives out every word of what he said each day of his life.
Each one of us wakes up every day and faces our own personal difficulties, large and small. And yet, as Hawking says, there is always something we can succeed at. Sometimes when I’m talking with a friend who is having a tough day, I remind them to “just do the next thing” rather than thinking about all the To Dos waiting for them in the days lined up in front of them. Sometimes I need to be reminded of the “just do the next thing” truth myself.
Success doesn’t have to be grand … it can be the next small step forward in the face of whatever difficulty you need to get around, over, under, or through.
In Your Words: What “something” have you succeeded at in the midst of your difficulties?
In Others’ Words: Choosing Something Other Than Difficulties #InOthersWords #lifequotes #success
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“However difficult life may seem, there is always somethign you can do and succeed at.”…
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February 17, 2016
In Others’ Words: Choosing the Goal or the Obstacle
I apologize for missing Tuesday’s post. I was traveling back from Washington, DC. after spending several days there while my daughter’s volleyball club competed in a tournament.
On the way back, I finished reading From a Distance, a historical romance by best-selling author Tamera Alexander, and the source of today’s quote. It’s always fun to read a good book — one that is well-written, entertaining … and one that makes you think.
This is one of those “You can’t really argue with it” quotes. Oh, sure, it’s important to consider what obstacles you might face when you’re setting your sights on a goal. But you can only focus on one thing at a time: the goal you want to achieve or the obstacles you might run up against.
If you concentrate on what might go wrong, those possibilities are going to loom larger and obscure your view of the goal. You know what else? Brooding about difficulties breeds them. A negative mindset fosters negativity. Yes, I just repeated myself, but it is well worth repeating.
What’s another way to define the word goal? A future accomplishment. Yes, you may have to make adjustments to your original idea of what the finished goal looks like. That’s called adapting … not failing. But if you’re going to focus on anything, keep the end in sight — not the deterrents you run up against along the way.
In Your Words: What goals are you aiming for today — little goals or BIG goals. How have you adapted them so they’re still attainable — and still valuable? How do you focus on your goals and not the obstacles?
In Others’ Words: Choosing the Goal or the Obstacle #In OthersWords #lifequotes #goals
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“Better to keep your focus on the goal rather than on the obstacles.” #lifequote @tameraalexander…
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February 10, 2016
In Others’ Words: The Teamwork Triad
My youngest daughter’s club volleyball team is heading out for a weekend tournament. Three days of nonstop competition. Three days to see teamwork in action — win or lose –and oh, how we hope for wins!
But I’ve learned watching CJ’s team that a day is successful if the team plays well no matter what the score is at the end of the match. Playing well = communicating + being resilient + encouraging one another on and off the court + never giving up.
Her team has come together. They’re sticking together. And they are working together — doing what it takes to be successful. Showing up for practices and staying in the game at tournaments, whether it’s a day-long one or a weekend-long one.
Because that’s what a team does.
In Your Words: Henry Ford broke teamwork down into “coming together” and “keeping together” and “working together.” What would you add to the definition of teamwork?
In Others’ Words: The Teamwork Triad #InOthersWords #lifequotes #teamwork
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“Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”…
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February 8, 2016
In Others’ Words: What Peyton Manning Prays
Am I celebrating the Denver Broncos winning Super Bowl 50? Yes, yes, I am.
I also realize some of you reading this post may be Panther fans, so understand that while I’m celebrating, I’m not gloating. Sports is always about winning and losing, and Broncos’ fans have experienced both.
Which brings me to today’s quote … and the intriguing truth that two-time Super Bowl winning NFL quarterback Peyton Manning does not pray to win. A life-long competitor who does not pray for victory.
Peyton Manning understands life is not counted by wins and losses. That, while there is something to be said about winning not one, but two Super Bowl rings — one-of-a-kind jewelry is not how you measure the worth of a man.
Broncos’ fans look at our vivid blue and orange sunsets and insist God is a Broncos’ fan, too. But Manning doesn’t think God even cares about football — except how it might help form a person’s character.
I’ve always said Peyton Manning is a class act, and I’m not the only person to say that. But now I know Manning has a wise perspective on life, too.
In Your Words: No, I’m not asking about the Super Bowl today. I’d like your thoughts on Peyton Manning’s prayer. How has winning — or losing — influenced your character? And when we talk of winning or losing, we know it happens both in sports and other arenas, so share however it applies to your life.
In Others’ Words: What Peyton Manning Prays #InOthers’ Words #lifequotes #PeytonManning
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” … do I ‘pray for victory?’ No … ” #faith #PeytonManning #quotes
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February 3, 2016
In Others’ Words: Did You Forget Something?
I am living my writing dream — and for that, I am so, so thankful.
But I also know “living the dream” means “doing the work.” Fast drafts. Rewrites. Deadlines. Copyedits. And repeat, repeat, repeat until I’m holding a “real book” in my hands.
There are days I’m just treading water, trying to keep my head above the waves as I try to get it all done. And yes, sometimes I forget, truly forget, how much I’ve always loved to swim . . . I mean, write.
I know not everyone reading this post is a writer like me. You are living — or pursuing — some other kind of dream. Maybe you’re another type of creative — a painter or a singer. Maybe you’re a teacher or an accountant or someone in the military. Maybe your dream is to be a mom or dad.
No matter what the dream, living it or working toward it can become nothing more than treading water. Exhaustion beats the passion right out of our souls. We’re trying to keep our heads above the waves that keep smacking us in the face, one after the other. It’s survival, pure and simple … and disheartening.
The question becomes: How do you remember what you’ve forgotten? How do you stop treading and start swimming again — not for survival but because you remembered you love to swim?
Yes, there’s work involved in every dream, but when a dream becomes all work and no joy, it’s time to stop. To remember. To dive deep into the heart of your dream again.
In Your Words: How do you balance living the dream and doing the work? Was there a time in your life when you realized you were (figuratively) treading water and that you’d forgotten how much you loved to swim? What did you do to dive back into your dream again?
In Others’ Words: Did You Forget Something? #InOthersWords #lifequotes #livingthedream
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Treading water vs. swimming: Have you forgotten what you #love? #quote by @tylerknott
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Check out Howard Books’ The Best Fiction Sampler Ever 2016 and read the first chapter of my second destination wedding novel, Almost Like Being in Love, which releases in June! You can also enjoy sample chapters of some other upcoming releases.
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February 1, 2016
In Others’ Words: The Ruins of Insecurity
Insecurity had it’s way with me for too many years.
I wouldn’t say it ruined my beauty … because I didn’t think I was beautiful, inside or out.
And that belief … that lie … was the surest sign of insecurity’s hold on my life.
We all struggle with self-doubt to some degree. Some of us seem able to withstand it’s stranglehold, while others of us are bullied into believing we aren’t worth much … if anything at all. The beauty of our essence is marred, sometimes almost obliterated, by a soul-deep uncertainty.
Only the Truth will set us free.
The first Truth we must embrace isn’t that we are beautiful. The first Truth we need to believe is that we are Beloved. (I Thessalonians 1:4) Have you ever heard the saying, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder?” When I finally believed that God looked at me and saw me for who I was — no hidden secrets or sins — and that He loved me, I could begin to believe I was beautiful. I removed the mask of pretense and let myself be me. And I could look in the mirror and I like — no, I could love who I saw looking back at me.
In Your Words: What lies has insecurity whispered to you? What truths helped you become free of self-doubt and see your true beauty?
In Others’ Words: The Ruins of Insecurity #InOthersWords #lifequotes #selfworth
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“Don’t let insecurity ruin the beauty you were born with.” ~Unknown #lifequotes #validation
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Check out Howard Books’ The Best Fiction Sampler Ever 2016 and read the first chapter of my second destination wedding novel, Almost Like Being in Love, which releases in June! You can also enjoy sample chapters of some other upcoming releases.
Get @Howard_Books Best Fiction Sampler Ever 2016 to look at @bethvogt’s June release Almost Like…
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January 25, 2016
In Others’ Words: We All Have Time Machines …
The idea of time machines captures the imaginations of children and adults alike.
How enticing to have the chance to go visit times past and interact with history or visit times-yet-to-be and help make history.
I’ve always thought it would have been an exciting adventure to be one of the American pioneers heading west in a wagon train. Yet given the chance, would I enter a time machine and punch in mid-to late 1800s and experience the reality of that life? What about Regency England? Or maybe close my eyes and let someone else program a date in the future? No, I’ve always been more intrigued by the past than the future.
And yet, H.G. Wells states such a simple truth when he says we all have our our time machines. Memories and dreams are powerful things, aren’t they? Both are able to transport us to times and places hidden behind the veils of “the past” and “the future”. Both are able to satisfy particular longings in our hearts in a way nothing else can.
And memories — my memories, your memories — are all the more precious because they are real. Real people. Real events. And dreams? Just as precious because they are our hopes that we wrap up in hard work and determination and patience and prayer as we strive to make them come true.
In Your Words: if you had an actual time machine, would you set the dial for a trip to the future or to the past? Any specific destination? Which do you prefer: memories or dreams — or not to choose between the two?
In Others’ Words: We All Have Time Machines #InOthersWords #memories #dreams
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“We all have our time machines … Those that take us back are memories …And those that take us…
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