I settled down on the sofa tonight, in my daily blogging spot, to attempt to write something meaningful about what God is teaching me today. Some nights I have something I simply cannot wait to share. More often than not, I do not know what I will write until my fingertips start tapping and the story emerges.
The children went to bed a little early and my husband is working late, so tonight I was sitting in quiet lamplight when I noticed the red light on my DVR.
What am I recording on a Tuesday night? I wondered. My shows are limited to Intervention, Dateline and 20/20 these days. Curious, I flipped on the television to catch the introduction to American Idol. I didn't even realize it started tonight; it is still programmed from last year. Immediately I was sucked in. As cheesy as some may find it, I simply love the premise of this show.
Plucked from a crowd of 100,000, someone will rise to superstardom within the next 4 months. Millions of people will root for someone they have never met--hoping to see them achieve an amazing dream. It is a true American story. Almost as interesting was the show opener when they flashed back to previous winners--some have excelled and some have squandered their fortune. What a picture of humanity!
Ironically (or not) I started reading a book today called Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris. I stumbled upon it by accident while ordering something else on Amazon. The reviews intrigued me, so I decided to give it a read, even though the target audience is teens and 20-somethings. I can appreciate the exhortation to not settle for ordinary life, but to seek God's extraordinary plan for your life each day, not some day. So far, I am impressed with this book and think it will be very helpful in youth ministry, important encouragement for the way I parent, and frankly, a great challenge personally. We'll see...
The temptation as a mother is to think of all God has in store for our children. What gifts are there to be uncovered in their little lives? I am feeling challenged in my mid-thirties to keep looking for what God has for me as well. It is especially exciting to see how they will be intertwined.
6 comments:
I read that book last summer and gave it to a friend's daughter who graduated from high school. I also gave it to my 16 year old sister. It's a great read!
I'll have to check it out. Right now I'm reading another recommendation of yours - A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
Thanks!
My son's 7th grade English class read this book and did lots of discussion. I'm reading it now and enjoying it as well. I want to find out more about what God has in store for ME and my family.
I enjoy your blog a lot even though I never (well, rarely now) comment. I'm a lurker from Athens (Go Dawgs) ;-)
I have tried so hard to not get sucked into American Idol in the past...or other shows for that matter that cause me to rush through my night so I can sit down and watch them...but I just couldn't help myself. I turned it on FOR JUST A MINUTE and before I knew it, 2 hours was gone..I watched the whole thing. I just laughed so hard, and it was fun watching with my husband. Now I'm a finished...I'll be sucked in for the whole show, because I want the last guy, the blind guy, TO WIN. :)
Oh well.....
Oh, you so need to take a look at..
In a pit with a lion on a snowy day by Mark Batterson. I think you will be blown away. I haven't got to read the whole thing yet, only excerpts and wow.
We're reading Do Hard Things with our 8th grade students where I teach. Great discussion starter, and a great new way to look at expectations of teens. Can't wait to hear more of what you think.
I, too, somehow love American Idol. :)
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