Akward at first, at the homecoming football game. Not my hometown. My children are home educated. We live in an associated district. I sat by myself.
Sitting by myself was my choice. I had driven my son, so he could see the game and meet up with some pals; it was also a lovely autumn evening- and the view from the stands is panoramic, overlooking a beautiful, large lake at sunset; complete with full-moon rising! And, I enjoy a marching band and fireworks, both of which were promised at half-time. The game, well- it was sadly expected 'our team' would be trounced; a prediction which held true.
I sat at the top of the stands- mostly because there you have a railing against which to rest your back- and at my age and condition, is definitely something to be sought out and treasured. We were early, and there were plenty of seats anyway.
Next to me were the steep cement stairs- the main stairs, in fact, as it was directly positioned next to an entrance. This produced a steady flow of people throughout the evening- which proved to be a blessing.
At first, sitting by myself- I felt a bit out of place, as I watched many groups of adults, children, youth; at the least you may see a few groups or two people, an occaisional loaner would appear- but would not be so for long, as they found their family member or friend with whom to sit, chat, or walk-about. I thought I must look quite odd to them, just sitting there by myself (of course being that I had brought knitting along to do as I waited for the game to begin, probably only added to my oddity).
But, after a bit, I began to be secretly pleased that I was by myself. As time had gone on, and given my seated position- I was finding that I was given the privilege of greeting and meeting quite a number of people. Albeit none chose to sit with me, or visit with any length- there was still a goodly amount of community chit-chat nonetheless. The most pleasing aspect came to me that, in fact, as the evening wore on- I had enjoyed visiting with many more, and a greater variety of, people than would I have if I had come with the intention of 'sitting with someone'.
A hidden blessing of being one who doesn't really 'fit the mold' socially, is that you have the privilege and opportunity to enjoy the tapestry of people to an even greater degree, say than someone who tends to stick around others of similar thread to a large degree. Those of us who others might view as socially awkward- not fitting any particular group; we get to experience even more colors and patterns and textures of the tapestry of people.
We may not fit 'in', but we can fit 'around'. :-)
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
This is awkward...writing a Blog is awkward! Sitting here by myself; basically 'talking to myself on the computer, to other people I don't even know who may listen'... That was an awkward sentence!
Back to defining awkward (as if you didn't know). I am staying on the 'uncomfortable, untrained... for much of life, we are untrained- and thus uncomfortable. There are so many variables in a moment, especially socially, one is never prepared for all of them. I think this is where the 'elegance' factor must come in. Sure, some have actually had more training than others, but the topper is elegance.
Elagance (ok, so right now you know I am a wonk too- yep an awkward wonk!): tasteful, refined, gracious...these are the qualities that reflect something even deeper than training can provide...these come out of the person's core; even more, from their core beliefs.
What we believe about ourselves, who we believe in...these things work themselves into our wrappings of elegance, or awkwardness~ some of us may even have on 'an old ratty scarf with our beautiful evening gown' kinda mix about us. Not everyone is elegant all the time.
Ah, and sometimes we will be 'all dressed up'- trying to wear a gown that doesn't fit well, or perhaps our 'slip is showing'- as my grandmother would've put it. This usually happens when we are borrowing someone else's attire; trying to wear what looked good on someone else, but turns out to be ill-fitted to us.
At the core- elegance is an outflow of grace. Grace~ to give honor, favor, beauty, sense of propriety, ...being protected, sanctified by God. It is realizing that a) you have much no matter your circumstance b)all of that is a gift c) mercy has been shown to you d)by His presence, there is beauty around you d) for all that you are freely given, freely give.
Those of us who live awkward lives- and are the most aware of it, also have the greatest potential of appreciation for elegance and grace. For those to whom these qualities seem 'natural'- they will miss its exquisiteness. They won't be able to catch the demensions and colors and nuances of grace and elegance that we can see (by accutely being aware of its absence, means that we have the ability to recognize it- 'getting there' is the difficulty...so we think).
Some awkward ones give up trying for elegance, seems too overwhelming- we see so much to be done, we tire of it all- we may even laugh and make fun of those who have it- just to take the edge off our own discomfort... Too much energy is spent 'trying' to be something 'we are not'. Which is more true than half realized....for to be elegant- is a gift. Purely gracious/elegant people (not the 'put on' ppl, not talking riches here)...have the qualities flowing out from somewhere deep within- it is not what they have 'put on'. And these qualities only come from deep inside, from what the person has been given.
Grace, elegance, mercy, kindness... these are only unlocked in our mortal beings by the key which only the Holy Spirit holds. When we surrender our life to trusting in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as our Saviour- He sends the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who unlocks our core and reveals a treasure room of these gems and metals... we get a tiny glimpse of our inheritance, here on earth! Even the, what do we do?:....maybe leave that door only open a crack, some even shut the door off again....but the truly purely elegant and graceful have learned to ever more open that door more widely; embraced the endless treasures, lifted them up~ and gently and humbly: offer the treasures to others! These people are not hoarders of this treasure-- for they rejoice in knowing that they can never give it all away; in fact, the more they share with others, the more there is in their treasure room...for the Comforter is ever not only replacing what is given away- but with ever greater abundance He gives...
So today- even if you do it awkwardly- take a moment to check that treasure-hold door in your heart (you inherently know it is there!). Is it locked tight? Open a crack? Wide open? I know- seems scary at first to open wide all that treasure- someone might 'steal it'...but remember- it really all belongs to the Comforter, and He will always give you more than you need- you will always have plenty to GIVE- So really, no one can steal it...
It isn't about what we do to get the key to unlock that treasure-hold. It is knowing Who has the key and allowing Him to come into your life, surrending to Him... take us as He finds us (in rags) and let Him dress us us in clothes of elegance and grace...sometimes it may feel a little awkward- but we will grow into it~
"For all of us have become like on who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;.... But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father, We are the clay, and Thou our potter; And all of us are the work of Thy hand." Isaiah 64: 6,8
"...and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all you anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5,6,7
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galations 5: 22-23
Back to defining awkward (as if you didn't know). I am staying on the 'uncomfortable, untrained... for much of life, we are untrained- and thus uncomfortable. There are so many variables in a moment, especially socially, one is never prepared for all of them. I think this is where the 'elegance' factor must come in. Sure, some have actually had more training than others, but the topper is elegance.
Elagance (ok, so right now you know I am a wonk too- yep an awkward wonk!): tasteful, refined, gracious...these are the qualities that reflect something even deeper than training can provide...these come out of the person's core; even more, from their core beliefs.
What we believe about ourselves, who we believe in...these things work themselves into our wrappings of elegance, or awkwardness~ some of us may even have on 'an old ratty scarf with our beautiful evening gown' kinda mix about us. Not everyone is elegant all the time.
Ah, and sometimes we will be 'all dressed up'- trying to wear a gown that doesn't fit well, or perhaps our 'slip is showing'- as my grandmother would've put it. This usually happens when we are borrowing someone else's attire; trying to wear what looked good on someone else, but turns out to be ill-fitted to us.
At the core- elegance is an outflow of grace. Grace~ to give honor, favor, beauty, sense of propriety, ...being protected, sanctified by God. It is realizing that a) you have much no matter your circumstance b)all of that is a gift c) mercy has been shown to you d)by His presence, there is beauty around you d) for all that you are freely given, freely give.
Those of us who live awkward lives- and are the most aware of it, also have the greatest potential of appreciation for elegance and grace. For those to whom these qualities seem 'natural'- they will miss its exquisiteness. They won't be able to catch the demensions and colors and nuances of grace and elegance that we can see (by accutely being aware of its absence, means that we have the ability to recognize it- 'getting there' is the difficulty...so we think).
Some awkward ones give up trying for elegance, seems too overwhelming- we see so much to be done, we tire of it all- we may even laugh and make fun of those who have it- just to take the edge off our own discomfort... Too much energy is spent 'trying' to be something 'we are not'. Which is more true than half realized....for to be elegant- is a gift. Purely gracious/elegant people (not the 'put on' ppl, not talking riches here)...have the qualities flowing out from somewhere deep within- it is not what they have 'put on'. And these qualities only come from deep inside, from what the person has been given.
Grace, elegance, mercy, kindness... these are only unlocked in our mortal beings by the key which only the Holy Spirit holds. When we surrender our life to trusting in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as our Saviour- He sends the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who unlocks our core and reveals a treasure room of these gems and metals... we get a tiny glimpse of our inheritance, here on earth! Even the, what do we do?:....maybe leave that door only open a crack, some even shut the door off again....but the truly purely elegant and graceful have learned to ever more open that door more widely; embraced the endless treasures, lifted them up~ and gently and humbly: offer the treasures to others! These people are not hoarders of this treasure-- for they rejoice in knowing that they can never give it all away; in fact, the more they share with others, the more there is in their treasure room...for the Comforter is ever not only replacing what is given away- but with ever greater abundance He gives...
So today- even if you do it awkwardly- take a moment to check that treasure-hold door in your heart (you inherently know it is there!). Is it locked tight? Open a crack? Wide open? I know- seems scary at first to open wide all that treasure- someone might 'steal it'...but remember- it really all belongs to the Comforter, and He will always give you more than you need- you will always have plenty to GIVE- So really, no one can steal it...
It isn't about what we do to get the key to unlock that treasure-hold. It is knowing Who has the key and allowing Him to come into your life, surrending to Him... take us as He finds us (in rags) and let Him dress us us in clothes of elegance and grace...sometimes it may feel a little awkward- but we will grow into it~
"For all of us have become like on who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;.... But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father, We are the clay, and Thou our potter; And all of us are the work of Thy hand." Isaiah 64: 6,8
"...and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all you anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5,6,7
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galations 5: 22-23
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Awkwardness...live it out boldly!
Life, in general, is just plain awkward in so many ways. Causing inconvenience; lacking grace or skill in movement or performance; difficult to manage especially because of shape; uncomfortable; lacking in training; inelegant...
In future posts. I hope to encourage you- either by knowing someone else out there lives an awkward life too, or by giving you insights into the blessings of living awkwardly.
Meantime- Live out your own awkward life with boldness!
In future posts. I hope to encourage you- either by knowing someone else out there lives an awkward life too, or by giving you insights into the blessings of living awkwardly.
Meantime- Live out your own awkward life with boldness!
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