Heather Holleman's Blog, page 155
October 9, 2019
Every Day a Fresh Start
God gave us mornings. He didn’t have to. Think about it: God decided to create us with the need to sleep, and He created a sun to set and a moon to rise and then a sun to waken us with a new morning.
It’s a fresh resurrection every day of our lives. It’s a fresh start and a resetting of not only the body but also the mind and heart.
My husband says, “I love the new morning!” Especially after a rough yesterday of one or two poor choices, inconveniences, disappointments, or anything that’s disillusioned us, we now start fresh.
Brew the coffee. Gaze out onto the new morning. Even the dew symbolizes a washing by water of yesterday. The sun’s golden light scatters the darkness of a day gone. I thank the Lord for new mornings and fresh starts.
Today is a new day.
October 8, 2019
By Day, By Night
I love the simplicity of Psalm 42:8: “By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life.”
It’s wonderful to think of God directing His love like a great orchestra conductor or like someone sending orders out to dispense love everywhere it’s needed. But I like best the image of a conductor directing a symphony of love over your life.
At this moment, the Lord directs His love toward you as you move about your day. And at night? You carry a song with you to the God of your whole life. Perhaps it’s the song the Lord has directed during the day–the one you’ve practiced all day long–that you now sing back to Him as you close your eyes in sleep.
Today, He directs His love.
October 7, 2019
That One Friend
I reunited with an old friend this past weekend at the Greystone 100th anniversary reunion. This friend is the one who gave me the very same green Bible that I read every morning of my life. She left it on my cabin bunk in 1994 with my name embossed in gold and a note inscribed in the front about making Jesus my first love.
We all need that friend. And we need to become that friend to others.
We’re so much older now by 25 years. But what a legacy Elizabeth Madden Pehrson left in my life from that summer onward!
October 6, 2019
A Time for Silence
I talked so much this weekend that I’ve lost my voice! (Or it might be allergies!)
I realize the blessing in it. After a time of reconnecting with so many treasured friends in a truly treasured location of Camp Greystone, it’s time to reflect. A little silence is good. I turn off the radio and drive in silence down the country roads away from Camp Greystone.
I worship in gratitude and in the deep silence that’s necessary when you wouldn’t have words anyway.
October 5, 2019
Like Old Times
I’m at the Camp Greystone reunion, and it feels just the same.
Pictures forthcoming! We’re not supposed to use technology, but I could not miss reflecting on this day.
Sometimes, you return to where you’ve been. You meet yourself again—the girl you were and the one you were becoming. You let her catch up to you on the road. You walk on, gathering all the pieces of yourself you can.
October 4, 2019
One Way to Ease Your Insecurity
This weekend, I return to Camp Greystone for the 100th year celebration of the founding of camp. I served as a counselor at Greystone from 1994-1999, so this reunion gathers together friends of mine I haven’t seen in 25 years.
Do you find yourself nervous to go to reunions? Most people I’ve talked to go to reunions with as much excitement as dread. We all worry about how we look. We review our accomplishments and wonder if we’ve done enough. We don’t know what others think about us. Some of us feel like failures and realize many of our dreams never came true and people somehow know this and judge us for it.
We are so hard on ourselves!
But guess what? Joy of joys! I thought I’d be overcome with the same old insecurities as I journey to camp, but this time, I’ve grown. Praise God! I’ve grown! Instead of worrying about all of the above things, I shifted my mindset to think about others. I began to pray for those coming. I think about how to serve them, not myself.
Imagine walking into reunion in order to ease the insecurity of others. Imagine speaking words of encouragement and blessing over people. Imagine God sending you there as an agent of blessing and proclamation.
Everything changes when you take your eyes off of yourself. Instead of thinking, “What will everyone think about me?” try asking, “Who here can I encourage and get to know better?”
PS: It’s a “tech free weekend”, so I might double post on Sunday night. You know I write my blog every day, but this time it might be on good old fashioned pen and paper in my journal during the rest hour in my camp cabin!
October 3, 2019
In Over Your Head
I’ve shared this quote from David Bowie as recorded in a Rolling Stone article about Harry Styles.
Apparently, David Bowie said this to Harry as his career launched:
“If you feel safe in the area that you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you are capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.”
–David Bowie
I share the quote with students who feel overwhelmed or in over their heads with job interviews or new opportunities. When you feel like you can’t quite get your footing and that you’re out of your depth, something exciting just might happen next.
October 2, 2019
Make the Way Straight
I loved reading a little prayer of David in Psalm 5 just now. He writes, “Make your way straight before me. . .” in verse 8.
In translation, it’s a cry for a smooth, pleasant, clear, and prosperous plan ahead. I realize I’m not always sure what’s next or where I’m going, so I ask God to make the way straight.
And He will. He does.
October 1, 2019
I Laughed. It’s True.
I can’t often help with homework anymore.
September 30, 2019
In Praise of Rainy Days
It’s our first truly rainy, chilly day in Pennsylvania after a sweltering summer. And it’s glorious. I find myself find in cozy socks with a warm beverage. I dream of a hot bath to fend off the chill. I hear the rain falling and the water gushing from the gutters and drains around the house.
It’s an invitation to write, to think, to pray.
The rain keeps us inside. I’ll make a warm meal, light candles, and nest in the living room as the night settles around us.
