more practice makes possible

Hello, Ladies! I love it that on Wednesdays when I'm not in the office, you carry on just fine without me, praying for each other, sharing news, keeping the conversation going. I think that's because you're mature enough not to need somebody monitoring your every move.

I think about that when a group or church asks me to speak on a specific topic like "Modesty" or "Popular Culture". I always say no, because I don't think telling teenage girls exactly what to wear and what not to wear, what music to listen to and what music to avoid, which movies to see and which to boycott is helping them (you) at all. To me, this time in your life is for figuring out those limits and learning how to make those decisions yourself. It's about having a basis for making choices and believing in and understanding that basis, that frame of reference. And I don't think just studying the Bible, going to church, and following the rules is all there is to it. I think it involves training and practice. 

It's a lot like riding a motorcycle. My husband and I have Headley the Harley, shown above. Until now, I've been content to ride on the back of Headley, where my only responsibility is to hold on and not lean in the opposite direction from the way my husband is leaning, lest we become roadkill. But now that we've had Headley for a year and I've come to love riding so much, I've decided it's time for me to learn how to drive a Harley myself. (Not only that, but I'm about to do a series of books for adults in which the main character rides a motorcycle and I need to have that experience). If I'm going to ride on my own, I'm going to have to be totally responsible for everything that goes on -- the steering, the shifting, the looking out for people who aren't looking out for me, all of that. I'm ready to take on that responsibility -- but I'm not going to just get on Headley and take off. And not just because my husband would probably have a stroke, but because I know I"m not ready.

So -- this weekend -- starting tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m., I'm going to take what's called the Rider's Edge course in which I'll spend 20 hours being trained to ride a motorcycle safely.  I've had to read a special book and study for a written test, but even at that I can't hop onto the seat and rev up the motor. I'm going to be taught how to balance and shift gears and steer and swerve and (most important!) stop. It isn't going to be a matter of an instructor saying, "Here's how you do it -- now go for it." I'm going to spend many of those twenty hours practicing on a course on a bike small enough for me to handle, with plenty of people there to scrape me off the pavement if I make an unexpected dismount. Even after that, if I pass the driving test and purchase a Harley of my own (I have one all picked out), I"m still going to have to practice and practice and practice before I go out on the Interstate or into city traffic.

Obviously I'm not recommending that all of you take motorcycle riding lessons! (Your parents would not be hpapy with me!) You've probably already realized that all of this can be applied to the kind of spiritual practice we're talking about here. You want to be able to be an authentic Christian in a teenage world that makes fun of you, tries to tell you that you're un-cool, and maybe makes you question your faith. I don't think I can help you at all by saying, "Just be yourself!" Or "Stick to your guns and bite the bullet -- high school isnt' forever!"   Or "They're wrong ans you're right!" (Like that even helps) What I CAN say is: draw as close to God as you can and God will show YOU, as a unique individual, how God wants you to respond, behave, choose your clothes, your music, your movies, and your next move. There are no rules -- there is only your relationship. But I can't stop there or you're still lost. How do you GET that close to God? You have to be trained, and then you have to practice.

Which leads us to the spiritual practices we're going to be talking about over the next few weeks. This isn't going to be like a theology class or a sermon or anything preachy -- I don't even know how to do that anyway. This is going to be about concrete, real things you can do that will give you a deeper sense of the presence of God. It's not like magic tricks. It's not like you can't have a relationship with the Lord if you don't do these things. These are just ancient practices that Christians have been using for centuries, things that have brought the likes of Augstine, Martin Luther, and Mother Teresa into God, where they have been shown answers and ideas and truths that have changed the world. Who wouldn't want to be part of that? You can be. 

We're going to start with Prayer Journaling, which I know some of you already do -- but this may be a little different. Here's what you can do today (and if you've been hanging out on the tween blog you may already be heading in this direction).  Put together something you can use as a special journal for our journey -- our summer pilgrimage, as it were, a mission trip into your own soul (you get the idea). Even if you currently keep a journal of any kind, consider making this one new and separate. If you are SO not a writer and you're starting to squirm right here in front of your computer, fear not. I bring you tidings of great joy -- you do not necessarily have to write in this journal. You can draw, doodle, cartoon, collage, do graphic design, or use any other visual means of getting your prayers down on paper. If poetry's your thing, you're in the right place. Dialogue? You bet. If you want to create a fantasy world to represent your prayers, more power to you.  The best news for some of you is that you don't have to worry about speling -- uh, spelling -- grammar, punctuation, etc. -- or even handwriting neat enough for anybody to read because, hello! -- nobody gets to read this but you.

Your journal can be:

• one you buy at a bookstore or the stationery aisle at Wal-Mart -- although I'm a big believer in making your own
• a decorated spiral notebook
• an old binder full of paper, transformed
• a bunch of paper stapled between two pieces of construction paper or cardboard, remodeled to suit
• a sketchbook or diary you once started and abandoned -- as long as you make it look like your current self

Totally use your imagination to allow this particular journal to reflect where you are spiritually right now. If you're full of doubts, cover the thing with question marks. If you're in a blue funk, smoky clouds would be just the ticket. If you have a passion for God just waiting to be let out, go with purple smoke emerging form a box. Creating this special journal can be a sacred experience in itself as you think about the way you'll use it -- to open yourself up to all that God has to tell you. Yeah, you think you'll be doing all the talking in it -- but you may be surprised.

If you want to post, you can share any thoughts you have about journaling, especially if you have doubts about it. And if after you create your book you want to take a picture of it (minus you), you can attach that photo to an email to me (send it as a jpg file) and I'll post it on the blog. Just tell me whether or not you want me to use your first name. Tomorrow we'll talk about how to write/create in your prayer journal. Meanwhile, enjoy anticipating the time when your decisions about being a Christian in a confusing world are going to be so much easier to make. I hope you love that as much as I do!

Blessings,

Nancy Rue

Comments

[Melody]

First!! I'll post more later!

[Patricia]

seccond!
Woah, that sounds so cool...I am deff looking for paper tonight...

[Liana]

THIRD!!!!!
FIRST TIME EVER!!!!
post in a sec

[Rachel]

This illustation is how I think of my prayers:
Everyone is at a big part And has been ask to bring some kind of food(prayer). On the table are all kinds of things - vegetabes and dip, cake, bruschetta, pastries... But there is one little plate with 6 crackers on it - thats mine. :(

But the journal thing sounds fun.:)
Ra

[Rachel]

I meant party!

[Liana]

OKAY!!! well i actually journal over computer and then print it out (because I get SO impatient with trying to write fast enough, cause i type alot faster than I write) for those of you who come across with that same problem.
Not long ago I was really encouraged to press into God at my church, so every week now my friends and I have been praying for people and doing 'prophetic stuff' (won't go into that because I know that some people have personal opinions) but all it took was encouragement! its not hard to have a relatioship with God, Im SO happy where I am with God right now, but I wouldnt be if I was encouraged, so I would also like to thank Nancy for your encouragement too.... it made such a big difference in my life when i used to read those lily books! Ill just finish off by encouraging everyone hear to pray and don't stop, because they same spirit that lived in Jesus, the man who raised the dea, lives in you!
Love
Larny

[Liana]

lol i meant the DEAD not the dea

[emii]

Hey,
I love to write, and I've kept a diary since I was 10 years old...actually, my first diary lasted THREE YEARS -- then my next lasted 6 months, and the one I'm using now is already half way through, and I've only been writing for a month. Not because they're getting smaller and smaller -- but because I'm beginning to love writing even more. And a month ago, when I started this diary -- I told myself that I'd write everyday, and I have. Of which I'm pretty proud =)

I can't wait for tomorrow's post! I have a journal that I haven't used, I haven't personalized it, because I love the design of it. It's a smiggle one, and it has a shoe on the front, and it's green, with colours inside...hmm, maybe I'll send in a pic of it =)

Luv,Emii

[Melody]

I really like writing and journaling! I have a couple journals that don't have anything in them so I might use one of them, or I might make one or use a spiral notebook. When I decide I will definitely be sending in a pic! Maybe you could make a contest out of it Mrs. Rue!

[Olivia]

Rachel you're making me HUNGRY! lol

[Olivia]

i write in a diary to and i also have a prayer journal that i've kept for awhile it helps a lot! sometimes i write prayers to God other times i write done somestudy notes from one of my deovtional books and other times i write poems about how i feel (LOVE LOVE LOOVE writing poetry!!)

[meredith]

Awesome Idea!! I already prayer journal a little but I'm going to try to do it more often. It is a lot easier for me than talking.

[emii]

And i find it waaay easier to "pray" to God (actually, it's talking the way i do it...) out loud, because i just start thinking about something unrelated. It's way easier to write it down, at least for me.

luv,emii

[meredith]

Yuck, don't you absoultley detest when you think something is going on with your friends and you can't decied if you're just jealous or disappointed or something is really going on. Thats how I feel. :S

[Rachel]

This is off topic but, yesterday I saw UP. It was pretty good.
Ra

[Victoria]

Okay that is super cool. I'm going to make a book tonite!!!!!!!!!
Victoria

[emii]

Ooh, I was really looking forward to a post today...:'(

[Katie]

I try to write in a diary daily, but haven't ever had a "prayer journal." I'm still on vacation, so I'll try to start when I get home!

[Rachel]

I'll make mine today - but I'm NOT very good with keeping a journal so I'll try.
Ra

[Olivia]

Maybe i'll make one to but i already have a prayer journal i guess i can have two :) i have millions of journals that i've started but never finished. I hope you do well on your Motorcycle test Ms. Rue!
~Livie~

[emii]

Naaancy, I can't wait for u to come back...

[emii]

almost time for a new post -- when i wake up... =)