Life Update: A Video
Monday, December 21, 2009 at 5:38PM | in Life Hi, friends.
My apologies for the lack of posting activity here in the last two weeks. I took an unexpected and very wonderful trip to California to visit one of my dearest friends on the planet. She had a frequent flier ticket that was set to expire at the end of the year, so we decided to jump on the chance to use it since we both had several days in a row available.
I’m so glad we did this.
In the thirteen years we have been friends, we’ve never spent more than 24 hours together, and we’ve never spent any of that time doing normal, mundane things like shopping for groceries, watching TV, or calling the plumber to stop by and fix some pipes and a sink or two. We relished the chance for this extended time of simply sharing normal life together.
Also in the meantime, lots of things in life have been happening in my world. I’m posting below a video update on these happenings. It clocks in at just under 10 minutes and includes:
- a story
- a process of discernment
- a special announcement
- an extra note worth noticing about the announcement
One hint about the announcement: It concerns a job opportunity I just accepted and can’t wait to begin in the new year!
PS: My apologies for the occasional jiggling of the camera. The laptop was sitting on my lap as I recorded this.
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Reader Comments (10)
Congrats, lovely friend . . . I'm so excited for you! May you continue to know how loved and blessed you are.
So, if you are going to be an abolitionist you need an abolitionist name. Hmm... Something like the ones from the 18th century.
Squire the Fire, I know that one is lame... but something to put fear in the heart of those who would dare to propegate slavery.
In my secret life I work for International Justice Mission and I go around freeing the Dalit Children of India from bonded slavery. I do that every day at Compassion, but in a more direct role some day.
Blessings to you in your journey my friend. I am proud of you for listening to your heart and following your dream.
Great update Christianne! I love the "tree diagram" idea too.
@Sarah: Thanks, friend! The amazing journey into this opportunity really has shown me how loved I am by God. Especially when I realize that he used the crazy fall season that brought me such discouragement to bring me to a point of clarity and discernment so that things could align and I could be ready for this opportunity to come.
@Carl: Hmmm ... what would be the 21st century name version of Harriet Tubman?? And I think your secret job is incredible! (As is your job in real life.) International Justice Mission is actually the organization that my company will be generating revenue to support in as big a way as possible. We'll be helping them do what they do best!
@Paul: I love the tree diagram, also! I can't claim ownership for the idea, though. A great nun I know encouraged me to do this for my process of discernment, and it was so helpful! As was the direction session we shared. Thank you for being led by the Holy Spirit during that session. It helped change my life! Isn't that amazing?
Oh my GOSH, this is beautiful, Christianne! Just way beautiful.
Can't believe I get to see you soon...ohmygoodness.
@Barbara: Awww ... thanks, friend! I am so looking forward to seeing you soon, too. Just got my books for the residency, which makes it feel more real. :)
We have talked about this behind the scenes, but I still say wow. WOW. You know the place that I am in right now and how encouraging this really is to me. The things you are describing to me are the exact same ways that I have known God to deal with me in the past, especially concerning jobs, but not only limited to that alone. But the pressure I feel from the outside world is my real problem. People keep pressuring me to do something. I hear, "you are never going to find a job unless you get out there and search." And want to say to them, "Well what the @#$@ am I looking for even I don't really know." I have some idea, but most of those things only come through stumbling in to them. People however judge me as just not trying or being too picky or just being lazy and I don't always know how to fight that. Anyway, I said all of that to say this is a real encouragement to me.
@Tammy: I'm so glad this was an encouragement to you. I know it meets you in the reality you are living right now.
I've found it's really important to pay attention to the ways God consistently works inside our lives. He doesn't work the same way in every person's life, but there is often a pattern to the way he works in individual lives. It's one way that we begin to notice his authentic voice and movement. It's not that we don't do anything for our part, but that we pay attention to the ways God speaks that are his familiar voice and movement ... and then we move toward what he is saying or doing in that moment.
Does that make sense?
Christianne, it was nice meeting you and Kirk today at the monastery. Looks like you're doing wonderful work. Many blessings to you.
Carl
@Carl: Thanks, Carl! It was so great to meet you, too.