Each Friday a group of women flow to the blog of Lisa-Jo Baker to receive a specific writing prompt.
The prompt is just one word. A word to spark an idea in our heads. At the start of a timer we have no more than five minutes to string together an array of words – bursting forth from the corners of our minds. It’s a lesson that teaches us to let go of perfection and embrace the idea of writing. No editing. Just raw words to step across the pages of our blogs and out into the streets of a virtual world to be shared with others.
And that is Five Minute Friday.
This week, the prompt is “Messenger” and you’ll find it here. So link up and join the fun!
Start.
Messenger
God doesn’t always speak through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes He sends someone. They look you in the eyes and say what you needed to hear. It can be a breath of fresh air. It can be a huge blow to the ego.
Regardless, I am grateful for the messenger.
This time she spoke softly, calmly, gently. She wanted me to know what caused the fear. The fear of being heard. Because sometimes being heard is hard.
I listen, I process, I don’t speak. I hang on to the words, frightened to hear them slip from my mouth. Dismayed because they won’t let me speak.
But I write. And then I’m heard. …is that enough?
The messenger doesn’t think so. She knows I have a voice. I do, too.
Do I retreat and stay where it’s safe? Familiar? Or do I step boldly over the hurdles in front of me and let that voice be heard?
This is why I love the messenger. To shake me out of this stupor as I walk circles…unaware. To shed light on what I could not see. And then I grasp it hard and turn it over in my hands, examining every detail and wondering “what now?”
I’m still the same – but mindful. The messenger gives me hope. The messenger is used by Him to show me who I am. Whose I am. And that I don’t need to be afraid…
Stop.
***
See? Now wasn’t that fun? Tell me about “messenger” in the comments below – or link up at Lisa-Jo’s blog.
visiting from #FMFriday. I love this “To shake me out of this stupor as I walk circles…unaware. To shed light on what I could not see.” I so get the circles. I talk about the spinning at my Messenger post. Thanks for sharing and relating!
Hi Jennifer!
I had never put words to that wandering, that fearful circling. Your words have shed light… you have been my messenger. 🙂 Thank you!!
Thank you, Brandi! 🙂
Jennifer, Your words struck a cord with me. I needed to think about this: “But I write. And then I’m heard. …is that enough?” Praise God for messengers who help move us to where we need to go. Thank you for this beautifully written piece. FmF
Thank you for the kind words, Karen. I am praising Him SO much for the messengers in my life right now. 🙂
I love how you shared on this prompt today, Jennifer. Nicely done. I find it so much easier to share my heart by writing and have probably asked the same, “Isn’t that enough?” But I do have a voice. We all have a voice and maybe there is someone who doesn’t read what we write who needs to hear our message. Blessings to you. So grateful to have connected.
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Beth. I am grateful for this connection, as well. 🙂
I love your voice and the heart behind it. Just sayin’.
LOL – thanks Andrea! 😉
I’ve had a few of those messengers come to me too! Grateful for their bravery and their obedience as they spoke words God wanted me to hear. Great post, Jennifer!
I’m really good at drowning out messages I don’t want to hear (and I fear I’ve passed that trait on to my youngest child, who is really struggling right now and can’t seem to understand the messages we are all trying to encourage her with). May she have some stumbling around time and actually hear.