Creating...

Hope

“Hope means never ceasing

to be amazed...

wearing

your soul on your sleeve...

holding

your breath, waiting to hear

I love you, too...

believing

that tomorrow could be better than today...

that you'll get a second chance...

that you'll make a difference...

that you matter.”

Mark Daniel Sanders (I Hope You Dance)

In her book, Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert recommends allowing Inspiration to lead; even when you have no idea where she's going, trusting that she knows the way. This morning, I sat down to write this blog, and asked the universe, as I always do, “What shall I write about today?” The name Mark Sanders popped into my head. Now, understand this, I don't know anyone named Mark Sanders. I don't have a stored memory of his name, or who he might be, and I actually looked up to the morning sky and asked, “Really? Who's that?” But, I went ahead and Googled his name. He writes country music, and wrote the song, “I Hope You Dance,” (for Leann Rimes) along with about 200 other songs you might recognize.

I don't know where Inspiration comes from—and I definitely don't want to tick her off by asking. Elizabeth Gilbert swears she's a free-ranging spirit; that she moves around in search of people who will listen. I don't know about that, but I do know this—you can trust her. She knows what she's doing. If something keeps nudging you, if some creative thought keeps elbowing its way into your head without invitation, it's because Inspiration wants you to be the vehicle through which she operates in the world. Believe me, I listen, because when I don't, when I question her directions, my mind goes as blank as a slate, and absolutely nothing surfaces that's worth a tinker's dam.

I like Mark Sanders' song/poem about hope—especially the line about wearing your soul on your sleeve. We constantly hear the term “transparent” today. We use that word instead of saying, “Allow yourself to be vulnerable.” Allowing yourself to be vulnerable sounds a lot scarier than being “transparent,” doesn't it? Being vulnerable means we do not walk around with a defensive posture, with the notion that we must protect ourselves at all cost. It means that we do not shield ourselves from criticism or disallow our minds to consider negative feedback that we might hear from others. It means that we remain kindly honest, and that we listen to others with an open mind and an open heart. Hope, then, depends upon our willingness to be open, transparent, honest and vulnerable. Will you wear your soul on your sleeve today?

                                                                  In the Spirit,

                                                                      Jane