Not So Courageous After All

I suppose Courageous was a good word to choose for my One Word for 2013, since I'm really (really) not courageous. This minute I should be writing on my final project for my Master's degree. Instead I'm reading blogs and commenting on Facebook and texting a friend, writing this blog and doing just about everything I can think of to avoid writing that paper.

The truth is, I'm afraid. I'm afraid after all this time that I can't do it. I'm afraid I have absolutely nothing to say - especially not 50-65 pages worth. I'm afraid that all I will able to do is regurgitate what someone else has said - and better. I'm afraid. And so I stall...

The pressure is on. I've told the whole world that I am graduating on May 4 of THIS YEAR. I don't have any choice really, but to start - to jump into the deep end of the pool. But here I am, toes on the edge, hesitating, trying to work up the courage to jump.

I'm in the process of going through a leadership assessment. I sent out a survey to around 60 people to give a rating and comment on aspects of my leadership covering integrity, courage, imagination, influence, and several other areas. As I read through the comments, one struck a raw nerve and I haven't been able to get past it. Under the heading "Imaginative" it said:

"It is hard to determine how much original creativity comes from Vicki versus what imaginative things she reads and implements. She is consistent in implimenting [sic] imaginative ideas, I'm just not sure to what extent those ideas came from a recent book or blog. Utilizing other people's ideas is great, and it does take imagination to envision how someone's idea could be worked into your sphere of influence, so that does take creativity."

I guess the reason is stung is that I feel that way much of the time. I don't feel creative or particularly imaginative. I admire people who are creative and often wonder how they do it. I just don't have that streak in me. And it makes me afraid.

I have this deeply ingrained sense of doing what is right and it drives me crazy when Pastors in particular, borrow someone else's idea, or even a whole sermon and don't give credit. I try to steer far away from plagiarism  but I'm afraid that I do it inadvertently anyway. How much of what I think comes from what I've read somewhere but don't remember where? Yes, these are the thoughts that keep me awake at night.

Sometimes I think I should go away for about a month with just my Bible and see what kinds of thoughts flow out of that. Even then, could I get out of my head the ideas that have already been ingrained in my thinking from all the books, articles and blogs I've read and the sermons I've heard. And - a part of writing this kind of paper is research that must be incorporated into the writing. This is a very real concern to me. I guess I'll just be really conscious of citing sources and trust the Lord to help me in this.

I did have a very inspiring and encouraging Google hangout this morning with a young woman who is utilizing Social Media in her personal life for community and for her church connections. Just talking through her ideas gave me some ideas. Will they be entirely original? Probably not. But really, is there a new idea out there? Even the most innovative idea came from somewhere - it was expanded upon, or built on, or spun off of another idea. I've got to cut myself a little slack here. Really.

So, I'm back to my first memory verse of the year;

"Have I not commanded you? (Yes, Lord. You did.) Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (And whatever you do.)" Josh. 1:9

I hear You.

One Word for 2013

Inspired by the folks at http://oneword365.com/, last year I chose the word, faithful. It signified to me God's faithfulness in every area of my life, and encouraged me to faithfully carry out His call on my life. I witnessed God's faithfulness again and again, in part because I was watching for it - aware of it.

Everywhere we go these days we are confronted with words. Television, books, newspapers, blogs, Twitter - words are coming at us in overwhelming number. In a sea of so many words, having one word to hang onto is like an anchor. What a relief it is to just remember one thing, one word.

My word for 2013 is Courageous.

Back in April of last year, at our church women's retreat, our speaker took us through an exercise to discover the six words that described our core values. My number one word was courage. I don't consider myself to be a courageous person. Not at all. But at the time, I was embarking on a courageous step - the step to move out of my comfort zone and into a whole new phase of life. Really, it was the culmination of a lot of courageous steps - small ones, baby steps - that led to this leap. Now I find myself a few months into this new adventure and needing to remind myself that it takes courage (really - faith) to follow where God is leading. I cannot see much past the present moment. I need courage to walk through the next door open to me, wherever and whatever that is. I need courage to write and submit papers. I need courage to get involved in a new church and a new community. I need courage to explore possibilities for my future that are still fuzzy and not completely revealed. I need courage to simply be, to rest and not be anxious about the future. I need to be courageous.

My verse for this year is Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.