Heather Holleman's Blog, page 122

The Clear Coat: Acorn Beauty

For the past decade, I’ve collected the fallen acorns every September to paint in cheerful colors as an autumn craft. We’d gather all the old nail polish bottles and enjoy painting the acorns. We’d always display our acorns in a glass bowl.

In fact, as I walk across campus this morning, I stoop low to scoop up acorns on the path from the large oak trees lining my walk. Another professor spies me holding my bag of acorns and says, delighted, “You’re painting acorns again!”

But this year, my daughter wanted to make an acorn garland with our leftover wreath wire. We could drape our acorn garland on the window sill. I love the idea! Besides, my daughters have grown out of the whimsical nail polish days. We’ve all become more mature and muted in our tones. I’d not find sparkles or Mermaid Shimmer in the nail polish collection. So we decided to paint a clear coat on the acorns. I cannot believe the exquisite detail of the acorns!

I absolutely love nature closely observed. And I think deeply about the “clear coat” of amplifying the truth of something’s beauty. When applied to the object, person, or situation, you suddenly see with clarity. You marvel. You see the intended design. Living with flair means we apply the clear coat.

My Homemade Autumn Wreath

I went to the craft store, and I found a grapevine wreath base, this bow, and some sprigs of little pumpkins and autumn leaves. I found a few sunflowers, too. I used crafting wire to tie everything to the wreath base. I’m so happy with how it turned out! I never knew I had it in me, but with the help of my daughter, I made something worth hanging up!

For What Reason Do People Most Request Your Input or Service?

In one professional development question, we look at hints to our best kind of service to the world. Can we look for clues throughout our lives that point to a call to a vocation? We can look back and see why people request our help or input. Is it for wise counsel? For organization? For motivation? For clarity? For peacemaking? For design?

Students think for a minute and realize how they best contribute based on what other people have noticed about them or why people request their help.

After this lesson, I realized this: People ask me to help with writing projects all the time. Just this week, I had several conversations to motivate and coach people with their book writing. I shared proposal templates. I outlined schedules to complete manuscripts. I counseled writers through their perceived blocks to writing–whether shame, fear of rejection, poor time-management, or a feeling of unworthiness or lack of skill. Next week, I have meetings set up with writers wanting to know how to query agents and think about publishing.

If I stop and consider it, I think about how often this happens. A call comes in. Help me with my book project.

I’m noticing this. I cannot ignore it. And I ask myself: What do I need to clear from my life to make more space to encourage writers? How is God shaping a new professional trajectory here? How do I best serve writers alongside my ministry and teaching calling? Just as I’m thinking of these answers, a man in my writing class approached me and said, “I’ve been stuck for 4 years with writing until now. What’s my next step?”

Do you notice these clues in your own life? Do you help people become unstuck in whatever ways they stay stuck? Are others calling you for help with meal-planning or healthy living? Are they always asking you marriage or parenting questions? Are you called in to help design spaces? What is that thing you do for others best of all? It’s exciting to think of what you might maximize this year as you think deeply about new directions and new career or service paths. What would you need to clear from your own life to make space to do this next thing?

Things That Taste Like Other Things

Following the theme of my Stuffed Dates that taste exactly like Snickers, I notice the Cotton Candy Grapes at Wegmans. They taste like cotton candy. I filled up a bowl of them as an afternoon treat. It’s always this delightful moment when you’re told something will taste like something else and it does. It made me smile.

Two Recipes I Love for Dinner and Dessert

Quick Dinner: Try this super easy Better Than Take Out Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe from Averie Cooks. We made this last night and cannot wait to make it again! https://www.averiecooks.com/easy-better-takeout-shrimp-fried-rice/

Best Dessert: You must try this simple Stuffed Dates dessert that involves stuffing pitted Medjool dates with a bit of peanut butter then dipping them in melted chocolate. Freeze to let the chocolate harden and to store your batch of dates. When you want to eat one, defrost for a few minutes. They taste exactly like a Snickers bar. It’s weird how much they taste exactly like a Snickers bar. They are filling, so you only need two to feel like you’ve had a big dessert. If you need an actual recipe, here’s one to follow (although I just melt whatever chocolate I have without the oil). https://www.eatingbirdfood.com/snickers-stuffed-dates/#tasty-recipes-37320

Enjoy!

Your Morning Ritual

Today’s class Name Game involved sharing our “morning rituals.” It’s such a great way to quickly get to know one another. We learned, for example, how one student continues to eat the exact same breakfast every single day that he began eating as a 5-year-old (waffles). I now know he’s a man of routine. I also learned how one student’s morning always begins the night before and her detailed and methodical way of preparing ahead for her outfit, her exercise plan, and her breakfast. We learn how she sets her bedtime exactly 8 hours and ten minutes before the moment she wakes up (to allow 10 minutes to fall asleep). Of course, she makes her bed the next morning. I think she’ll be the CEO of everything. Next to her, however, we learn of students whose morning consists of waking up 10 minutes before class (4 minutes to get ready and 6 to walk to class). I have students who make enormous breakfasts that include hash browns, ham, eggs, and cheese. Others are oatmeal and berry people.

I connected most with the coffee lovers and tea drinkers. I learned about favorite espresso and must-have creamer. I learned about Chinese black tea and green tea.

Three students drink lemon water every single morning. I might try this.

One student rises at 5:00 AM to work out every single morning. I won’t try this.

Who Can Show Us Any Good?

I love Psalm 4. Some translations say this is David’s “Evening Prayer of Trust.” I imagine David placing his head upon the pillow and reciting these words to himself. I highlighted my favorite phrases.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?  But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself; The Lord hears when I call to Him.

Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. 

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And trust in the Lord.

Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?”
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!
You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.

David understood something I so desperately need to know in my own heart. When we become so discouraged that we ask, “Who will show us any good?” we can say, “What matters is that we have the Greatest Good already–the presence of God (the light of His countenance) and the gladness He put into our heart by the Holy Spirit.

In the Swing of Things

I’m into the second week of teaching in a classroom at Penn State. By this week, it feels like we’re in the swing of things already. It’s a great feeling to know your schedule, your rhythms, and your weekly goals. There’s something so reassuring and normal about an academic calendar. In fact, when I asked one of my classes what they were most looking forward to this week, they talked about the order and routine of attending class, learning, studying, and writing.

I’m thankful for a good routine.

5 Things We Haven’t Lost During Covid-19

This morning I woke up so discouraged and hopeless. Sometimes these feelings wash over me during the day as I stand at the kitchen sink and look out over the forest behind my house. Nothing feels normal. Every day I wait for news about which college or school is shutting down or what new data is now revised. We’re living in confusion. We’re living in anger over policies so many of us disagree with or misunderstand related to this virus that keeps us still living in fear, distrust, and sadness. And there’s no end in sight as I read conflicting news stories, research, and social media posts. And since people disagree, there’s tension everywhere–about the virus itself, about the upcoming election, about social justice issues, about church gatherings, and about masking in public. I’ve never lived in or heard of a time like this in history. It’s a weary, sad time for so many of us.

But I want to dwell in hope not despair.

I recall Romans 15:13 where Paul writes this: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

I ask God to fill me with hope by the Holy Spirit. I ask God to remind me what I haven’t lost in COVID-19 and what’s always available to us at all times. What came to mind is this simple list of 5 things that bring joy and true hope to my soul:

Supernatural peace. We haven’t lost the shalom peace that can fill our hearts in any circumstance. This peace passes understanding. It’s the peace I pray from 2 Thessalonians 5:17: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” Peace brings a steadiness inside that we know God is in control, that God is working for His good eternal purposes, and that God will give us everything we need to endure what He is asking us to endure. 2 Peter 1:13 promises that “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

Love. We haven’t lost the ability to experience God’s abounding love and the ability to love others. We know from Romans 5:5 that “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” In this amazing love, we can now love one another, serve one another, and care for one another. Nothing can take away our ability to experience God’s love and then love others.

Purpose. If we’re still here on earth, God has prepared “good works in advance” for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). If we’re still here, we live a sent life to bless others and lead them to Jesus.

The Ability to Worship. We worship God in spirit and truth no matter where we are. And we know from Romans 12 that you can “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” I also recall the command from 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Growth. We haven’t lost our ability to learn and grow and mature. We haven’t lost our ability to self-reflect, listen to the Holy Spirit, read the Bible, and pray. We haven’t lost our ability to trust God to teach us how to live in this new world. We haven’t lost our ability to become more and more like Jesus every day. I remember that God has “given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 2:14).

I move on into the day knowing that whatever I’m losing right now doesn’t compare to what I still have and will continue to gather into my soul no matter what happens today or tomorrow. I step into peace, love, purpose, worship, and growth today.

Abundant Goodness

I’m struck by Psalm 145 and how we learn about God’s abundant goodness. In case His goodness isn’t enough, we learn it’s abundant. David writes about the Lord this: “They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”

I remember that God is good. He is abundantly good to us. It’s His very nature. He cannot help it.