Today's guest blogger is Charrette, who joins us from Divergent Pathways. Charrete is an artist, wife, and mother, and a woman of deep faith, who loves... well, she loves so many things... read her blog and see what I mean.
When I asked Charrete to do a guest post while I am on vacation, I told her that I would like her to write about "things that you believe in". I know that sounds vague, but I told her to "free form at will" Here is her post.
Despite all appearance, this is not a movie review.
I saw the film “Julie and Julia” tonight, with my
husband. To say I was excited about seeing it would be an understatement. I am
in awe of Meryl Streep, I enjoy Amy Adams too, and I love to cook. So I was
practically guaranteed a light, fun, delicious evening at the cinema.
What I did NOT expect? Was that it would make me cry. And
cry. And cry. I
felt like my heart and soul had been flailed open the way Julia Child herself
would debone a duck. Because I didn't realize this movie is
about much more than cooking. It’s about Friendship. And Love. And (are you
ready for this?) Blogging. But even these three things wouldn’t,
shouldn’t make me cry on a typical Friday night. There was something else about
this film that touched me on a very deep emotional level, something I almost
can’t describe. I think it was the primal need it showcased to find
ourselves...to locate our innermost self and find a vehicle for expressing
it. I immediately thought of
specific friends who, at specific times in my life, have helped me find a part
of myself. Cari helped me rediscover my love for the great outdoors, and
especially mountain trails. Anne has helped me (through blogging) to rediscover my love of writing, awakened
with a nearly transforming vengeance. Jeanne helped me awaken my inner mother.
And Marie lent me a slice of her own sure-footed sense of identity, teaching me
over most of a lifetime to love and appreciate my unique strengths. We all
share a great love for scripture and far-reaching eternal truths.
I am convinced that God himself sent me these friends, to
minister to me when I needed them most. To help me remember who I really am...a
creative spirit with eternal roots and a familial connection to God that runs
vast and deep.
The scriptures tell us that in order to find ourselves we
must first be willing to lose
ourselves. I think He was referring to selflessness and service. But in a
way, He was also saying we have to GIVE OF OURSELVES in order to find
ourselves. It happens in cooking. We invest time and effort and
even a little creativity. To nourish those we love. And it ends up being like
therapy...as we chop vegetables and revel in the colors and textures, then
engage in meaningful conversation with our family and friends as we surround
the table.
It happens in friendship. We share a
little of ourselves with each other...divide the sorrows and multiply the joys.
We listen, we love, we serve, and somehow it all comes back to us...bigger and
better than when it left.
And it happens in blogging. Sometimes
we’re able to share parts of ourselves here that we couldn’t possibly find an
outlet for anyplace else. And kindred spirits respond. We find such validation
here. We discover amazing things about ourselves in the process, and discover
wonderful new friendships with people in such remote locations our paths likely
would never have crossed.
But the most important way we give of ourselves is by submitting
our lives, our gifts, our whole selves to His will. We lose ourselves --
our selfish, natural inclinations -- so He can find us. And reshape us. One of
His modern-day prophets, Ezra Taft Benson, said:“Men and women who turn
their lives over to God will find that he can make a lot more out of their
lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken
their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their
blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends,
and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life to God will find he has eternal
life.”
Thanks so much for this, Charrette. I knew that I was going to be able to give my readers something great as soon as you told me that you would be my guest. You have touched the heart of what blogging means to me and so many other people.