Live with Flair

Bravery and Kindness: What it Takes to Be Together

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:38:52 PST

I'm asking the children in my neighborhood what role they play and have played in building our neighborhood community.

I'm also interviewing them about what makes it hard to form communities.

I realize that every single member matters--even the toddlers--when it comes to creating a neighborhood. These little ones have wisdom I can glean.

I start with my own daughters. "What is your role here?"

The oldest says she's a "Fitness Team Leader" because she hosted the neighborhood basement fitness groups and encouraged her friends to come to Monday Night Fitness group in the parking lot.

My youngest says her role is simply showing up to play.

Leading and participating both matter.

"Why is it so hard for some neighborhoods to come together as a community?" I ask.

The oldest says, "You have to be brave. You have to get over insecurities and confront any bullies. You also have to be kind. That's why it's hard for people."

Kind and brave. Living with flair means we move out into our neighborhoods with bravery and kindness.

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What makes it difficult for people to devote themselves to a neighborhood in this generation?

Little Cabin in the Woods

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:19:37 PST

Solitude and silence both require faith.

You sit down for the day in a cozy little cabin by a big mountain, and you have to believe certain things:

You must have faith that stillness constitutes its own form of productivity.

You must have faith that the real you--and all her honest and unspoken thoughts--won't terrify you when you meet her. God can handle this unruly woman.

You also have to trust that God will help you find your way out of the dark woods when you walk up towards the mountain.

He will.

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It was a great day away!

Better, Greater, or Otherwise Different

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:01:40 PST

Today, is a special day. It's going to better than, greater than, or otherwise different from all the others. That's what special means: better, greater, or otherwise different.

When life catches up to me in a collision of stress, uncertainty, or exhaustion, I truly need a special day to recharge. Do you?

Otherwise different for me means one thing: solitude.

I'm an off-the-charts extrovert. I've never played solitaire. I write novels to invent more people to spend time with. Even when I'm blogging, children run circles about me while I'm texting friends.

So I arrange six hours of solitude in a little prayer cabin in the woods today.

I really did. Me! Alone for six hours in a tiny cabin by a stream.

I have a journal, a pen, a Bible, snacks, coffee, more coffee, and of course, leftover Chinese food. I might lose my mind with all this time alone. Either that, or I'll meet with God in the refreshing solitude of an otherwise different day.

I'll report back on my adventures in solitude.

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What would better, greater, or otherwise different be for you?