Say What You Need To Say

     Photo Credit: Jon Acuff

     Don't worry. My blog post about Viola Davis vs. Meryl Streep will be coming to your face later this week.

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     So, I've been learning more and more,  that it is truly wisdom to listen. To watch. To observe.

     I get the pleasure of observing many of you via this virtual forum called the Internet. And others I get to observe by word of mouth. Yes, a different type of observation all together, but warrants the recognition.

     I've learned that the subject that you claim has no hold on you, is the very subject imprisoning you. The thing that you try to ease your doubts about, you unintentionally reveal that its essence has it's hooks in you--deeply.

     Say what you really need to say. That you may or may not have it all figured out, and in your vulnerability you wanted us all to know that truth. And it's okay. The truth wasn't necessarily in your words, because you are still dissecting certain truths. The truth exposed itself in your reflection. Of how you felt. About yourself.

     We fall short. Expectations. Circumstances. And the like.

     But never stop listening. Observing. Learning...

     There is much teaching in our midst. And much learning to be had.


Wisdom's Knocking:


"Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ."

(The Message, Romans 3:23-24)

Leap On It

     Photo Credit: Jordan Wetherbee

     My mother just opened the door to my room and said, "Leap on him!". True story.

     Um. Does your mother rush into your room and make such lofty declarations? I know you must be thinking. Um, Patrice, what is your mother still barging into your room for? Is she, like, your roommate? Read, 99 Problems to find out the answer to that question.

     Back to Ma Dukes.

     So of course I look at her and giggle. These types of phrases are pretty normal in my household. Think what you will.

     She then tries to further sell me on her case.

     "It's Leap Year," she says.

     I'm thinking. Uh-oh. Like the movie? (And yes, I loved that cheesy movie. What.) And then Ma Dukes confirms.

     "The girl can leap on the guy. Yeah. I know--It's the one time the ladies can do it."  Yes. I love my mother.

     And then my mother gives me a beguiling smile. "Soo...you can ask him out on that day..."

     It's this unspoken thing. I haven't even told my mother of this current man crush I have. You all know more about it than she does. But oddly enough, in her gut she is already sniffing out clues. No. Scratch that. It's like this woman is already inside my head and she somehow knows something is up...

     But I still play it all off.

     "No--NO." I say with fake laughter. I can't cave in now.

     "Okkkkk," she says, dragging out the sound of the "K" way to long. She slowly closes the door while she is still eyeing me down and smiling.

     The door closes and I think, "What the heck was that?"

     Nevertheless, I remember the dream that I had last night. A wonderful and gentle man, holds me with sweet brotherly affection and whispers in my ear, "Don't worry, it's going to happen for you..."


Wisdom's Knocking:

Some doors are closed, others are opened. At certain times its difficult to tell which is which.


Up, Up


Photo Credit: Hannah Cruz

     So Spring isn't quite here yet, but I'm feeling that new birth and awakening that Spring provides.

     I alluded to the possibility of a new adventure in one my last posts. And I'll have you know that I'm steadily putting the pieces together as they come to me.

     I'm taking some time to think, reflect, and pray about the flow of such pieces. I don't want to get too ahead of myself. But at the same time I don't want to stifle the momentum.



Wisdom's Knocking:

"Scientists don't fail, they experiment. Get out there and DO something." -- Jon Acuff

Social Media Fuzzy Handcuffs

     Photo Credit: Daniella Hovsepian

     I notice that I only become addicted to social media when there are people that I feel an urgent need to connect with. Which is a fancy way of me saying, when I have a crush on someone and I want to find out about every waking moment of their life and how they interact with friends (ie: Lady friends) online.

     That is why, I've not allowed myself to be handcuffed to social media when it comes to my current crush. I want to not stress about every "Like" or comment this person makes. I'd rather make real judgement calls in person. I want to give both of us a fair chance.

     I had a weird dream recently, where I was walking towards a particular room in a house to peer into the bedroom of a particular guy (Of whom I'm still not quite sure of the identity--It didn't seem like my current man crush, but could have been...) to either watch him sleep (Yes, creepy) or to simply see how he lives in private. I was so excited when I tip-toed to the door, like I was about to see a beautiful surprise. Well a surprise is definitely what I got.

     I came to the closed door of his room and gently cracked it open. And to my astonishment, the back of the guy was facing me as he lay in bed, seemingly naked, romantically wrapped in bed sheets. But wrapped in this guy's embrace was a beautiful brunette girl (Wearing glasses?), facing me, who saw me right away. I fumbled around out of embarrassment and
nervousness.

     She was extremely sweet and kind and didn't seem too bothered by my interruption. The guy never even turned around to see me.

     I quickly tell the brunette a lie in the dream and say that I had somehow gotten lost in the house and thought this room was a different room. And if that wasn't embarrassing enough. I get down on my hands and knees and then gently close the doors to allow privacy again for the busy twosome.

     And that is why I don't want to push down doors fueled by impatience in order to obtain definitive information. In such cases, one can get a whole lot more than they bargained for.  And many times, not the whole picture...



Wisdom's Knocking:

As much as we desire intimacy, be sure to be steady in its pursuit as well as prudent in action. Too much too soon can cause an untimely explosion.