Comments on: What do I really want?

By: Anita Mathias

Anita Mathias — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:08:54 +0000

Thanks, Rhoda. And I liked your post about ignoring criticism, and returning to what God has called you to do.

Of course, that can change, grow more nuanced or specific. Or one may not have heard it correctly the first time. While I do enjoy your thoughtful, inspiring posts, it's possible you are missing a wealth of material about home-schooling, church-planting, being a pastor's wife etc., marriage etc because you defined your blogging call as writing what God is teaching you.

The process of struggle is actually as interesting as the solution... so I tell myself as I too rarely share the messy middles but tell the story once I have come out on the other side, with some wisdom, or insight or conviction. I guess I too struggle with writing unless I can see what earthly or heavenly good my reader might derive from the post. Rambling a bit. Thanks much for the comment:-)

By: Rhoda

Rhoda — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:33:10 +0000

This is the kind of post you write that I like best, thoughtful, spiritual and searching 🙂

By: Anita Mathias

Anita Mathias — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 20:20:17 +0000

Thanks everyone. This obviously hit a bit of a chord, esp. with women.
@Sherrey, thanks:-). Love Nouwen and Buechner too.
@Claudia, thank you for the encouragement with shorter posts. I don't write or post them so often because they feel "slight."

@Valerie, yes, definitely we need balance. I was just telling my husband that if he did what he really wanted to do most of the time, my life would be very hard. He loves gardening, and reading on the internet. I so need his help with cooking, shopping, housekeeping etc. So I am grateful he doesn't ask the question, "What do I really want to do?" as often as I ask it.

@Dan, love that Ignatian principle. Do you know who wrote it. I'd love to post it as a thought for the day.

@Sarah, thanks for the encouragement to be honest and personal. I guess if opt for being inspiring and edifying rather than honest, we can displease God, who sees through all our b-s anyway. People sense and "smell" dishonesty anyway, I firmly believe, so it may not even work as a piece of writing.

@thechurchwarden'swife, welcome to my blog, and thank you for your encouragement:-)

By: thechurchwardenswife

thechurchwardenswife — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 20:03:07 +0000

Love this – a very timely reminder that everyone should take seriously.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 11:55:39 +0000

Anita I loved your post today - I too like the shorter more personal stuff, it's no less worthy than longer more accademic blogs! Being honest in what you write is important, that's when you touch other people and often in ways you last expect.
Dan I loved that quote too will have to print it out and put it somewhere.
Today didn't start off great, I find weekends a struggle and plan to write a post on that soon, but through the wonders of blogs, twitter and facebook I've found the words to keep me going and make me smile :-)
THANKS xx

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 10:27:41 +0000

Thanks for this good word today, and how it speaks to heart and mind.
Pinned to the cork above my desk is this 'Ignatian Principle':
"Regardless of what is sensible, and regardless of what you think you ought to do, which of the courses ahead makes you feel alive, makes your heart open wider, makes you feel hopeful and as if the future is opening up and not closing down? That is the route you should go."
I hear that in the rich paragraphs you've written, and am glad for the encouragement to pursue what is deep and real.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 10:12:08 +0000

A thought provoking post I think the trick is to try and get the balance right between doing what we think we should do and what we want to do.

I also enjoy the shorter more personal posts to the heavier ones.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 05:14:44 +0000

Well said Anita. I wish I'd had a mentor that wise. I pray one day I become that wise.

BTW: I like the shorter posts - they often hit deeper into the soul than the longer posts.

God bless.

By: Sherrey

Sherrey — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 22:34:27 +0000

Anita, strangely enough, I was in a leadership meeting this morning with our Mothers of Preschoolers Steering Team. It is time to seek new leadership in many areas, and we began to talk about the year end and whether our expectations had been realized. Your post today strikes very close to what we began to verbalize. Who are we doing what we do for, and are we holding God up as the focal point of what we do? Thanks for a most enlightening post, and a piece of beautiful writing.

You also quoted two of my all-time favorites, Nouwen and Buechner.