Moments come in all shapes and sizes.  Boxes.  Balls.  Green velcro.  You name it.  .....  If someone asked you about the "moment" in your life - the moment when you most clearly heard God speaking to you - what would it be?

Here's mine.  And it's not my conversion story, or at least not the kind you might expect.

I was sitting on a folding chair in a rustic room - a cabin of sorts - surrounded by the Rocky Mountains.  I had chosen a seat on the left side of the makeshift aisle, about 2/3rds of the way back, off to the side near a window - the perfect place to sit and take things in without being noticed.  That last part was very important - not to be noticed.  Just checking things out.  After all, everyone else belongs here.  I don't. 

Lots of people surrounded me - confident people - people I didn't know - in fact I knew no one.   At the front of the room stood a hip woman dressed in "mountain casual",  telling us her story, talking about songwriting.  And....my heart began to stir.   No, "stir" is too tame a word.  My heart was racing...pounding in fact.

The Bible says "His sheep will recognize His voice."  Well, on that particular day in early August, with afternoon rain storms moving in over the mountain peaks, I recognized His voice.  The voice wasn't coming from the woman...it was coming from inside me.  And it felt as if a heavy hand was resting on my shoulder.  I've never felt anything that clearly before or since.  I knew God was speaking to me, and that He was giving me an opportunity to respond.  Yes, God was speaking...but I still had a choice.  I didn't have to respond in a certain way, but I also realized that I was at a crossroads in my life.

You've probably guessed this, but the woman's name was Sue C. Smith and I was attending a class in the songwriting track at GMA's Music in the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado.  And this experience was repeated in another class that week taught by Dave Clark.  I didn't speak to Sue after class - or Dave for that matter - I was far too frightened.  I did attend Sue's conference two months later (you guessed it - Write About Jesus), but I didn't speak to her then either - nor Dave.  I'm pretty good at blending into the woodwork when I want to!  I continued to watch from afar, but I still heard God speaking...following up...nudging...calling.  Relentless love.

Over the years I have made a conscious effort to honor that moment with a series of yes's.  Some yes's are easier than others.  It helps of course when things line up with your heart's desire, but "questions" are relentlessly perched on my shoulder, whispering in my ear at the most inopportune times.  Yes, my entire life I have wanted to be a songwriter.  It's always been the answer to the invariable ice-breaker "If money was no object, what would you DO?"  But that's really beside the point, don't you think?  The important question is, "What does God want me to do?"

Well, regardless of where the path leads, I can rest easy knowing that my Trail Guide actually designed the trail itself!  He knows every twist and turn, every root sticking up from the ground waiting to trip me, every panoramic vista just around the bend.  I'm good with that!  Even if I get off track a time or two, He knows how to find me in the thicket and get me back on the straight and narrow. 

And as for Sue and Dave, yes I eventually came out of my shell.  And today I am grateful and humbled to be able to call them my friends.  (But don't ask them what they call me - songwriters sometimes have a curious sense of humor.)

August 2004 was a second birth for me.  Not a second birth into becoming a Christ-follower.  I've been there for a long time.  But born again, nonetheless.

What is your "moment"?

Signed,
Groh Wing Upp

I'm not sure I can define that word.  I learned it reading some of Julia Cameron's books...it's sort of like "God-ordained coincidences".

Anyway, here's a recent collection of happenings that all seem to be part of the same synchronicity in my life - but I'm not necessarily listing them in logical order.

1.  Two guys in my local Christian songwriting group, N. and R., are members of the band Everfound.  They've done well at Estes Park - both the band and the lead vocalist.  They're also turning into some of my favorite cowriters.
2.  My family is going to their concert this coming Sunday night in Parker.
3.  Another band scheduled to be in the concert is RoughDraft.  I'm quite certain I've heard of them...but...where?
4.  I go to my local NSAI meeting and a 17-year-old drops in (just finished his voice lesson) to listen in and play some of his own songs.
5.  For his second song, he announces, "Ericka Harvey wrote the words for this one."
6.  Aha!  NOW I know where I've heard of them!  Many of you know this, but Ericka is my friend via Write About Jesus, we've cowritten, and I stayed at her house the last time I was in Nashville.  SHE told me about RoughDraft!
7.  His name is A., and I tell him about my connection to Ericka.  I mention Everfound, because of course he must know my cowriters.  He does, and says the three of them are like brothers.  Doesn't surprise me.
8.  I have a cowrite session with my Everfound friends, and before I can even finish the story they've guessed that I'm talking about A.  Yup, it's a small world.

That would be quite enough, but....

9.  My 8th grade daughter was packing last night for her youth retreat this weekend in the Colorado mountains.  She comes down with the flyer and says, "Mom!  Look who the band is going to be this weekend!"  Unbelievable.  RoughDraft.  ....  So I give her the run-down on all of the aforesaid connections, just in case she and her friends want a "reason" to talk to the band this weekend (which of course they do!).  
10.  Sunday night's concert is reportedly gaining momentum.  N. tells me that WAY-FM (Christian radio station) and Channel 9 are apparently going to be covering it.  And one of the amazing things is that the entire focus of the concert is a ministry need of some people they know...sort of a benevolence thing. 
11.  RoughDraft, if you're reading, I'm looking forward to hearing the band version of the song you wrote with Ericka.  You are playing it, right?  And Everfound - you guys rock!

I just tried re-reading all that and I'm guessing it may sound like gobbledy-gook to you.  But haven't you experienced things like this in your own life?  Somewhere, deep inside your spirit, you know that certain things are connected.  You couldn't have planned them.  You didn't manipulate them into happening.  They're just coincidences.  OR ARE THEY?  Regardless of why they happen, I still know God has a hand in it.  Maybe a little light bulb will turn on in my mind someday and I'll say, "Wow!  I had no idea!"  Or maybe not.  But God knows.

I pray that you experience and recognize a synchronicity of some sort in your own life this week.  And when you do, be sure to notice God's hand in it - regardless of whether you can make any sense of it.  And then praise Him!

Definition of coincidence?  "When God performs a miracle and remains anonymous."

Signed,
N Sync

Door #1 - You're a member of the GEEK squad.
Door #2 - You're an Apple GENIUS.

Door #1 - You leave a cowrite wondering why you ever thought you could write a song.
Door #2 - You leave a cowrite feeling like a GENIUS.

Door #1 - You leave an Apple One-to-One appointment and definitely do not feel smarter than a 5th grader.
Door #2 - You leave your Apple One-to-One with a spring in your step, encouraged that someday you may indeed be a GENIUS on a Mac.

Door #1 - Leftovers.
Door #2 - You create your own recipe and your family thinks you are a GENIUS.

Door #1 - Eight grade math totally eludes you.
Door #2 - But you can still wow your 5th grader when you help him with a science project.  You guessed it.  GENIUS.

I don't know about you, but I'd prefer door #2.  Life is too short to settle for "geek" status....

Signed,
Ime uh Winn Rrrrr

I'm reading "Quiet Strength" (Tony Dungy).  Excellent.  I love what the owner of the Colts wrote in one of several opening quotes.

"Amid the deafening roar surrounding the machinery of earthly glory, the spiritual man leaves quiet footsteps of inspired faith."

I want my life to be like that.  Actually, I want my next song to be like that too.

Signed,
B. Kawai Itt

A good friend once observed, "Sometimes we have to say 'no' to really good things in order to say 'yes' to other things that are God's 'best" for us." 

Uh.  Okay.  But see, that's the tricky part.  Saying "no" to a GOOD thing.  How can that be right?  And who gets to decide?!!

How can it be a good thing to not answer the phone first thing in the morning if caller ID tells you it's a friend who you know has been going through a hard time?  Well, maybe you have a weakened toddler who is sick and needs your attention desperately.  Or maybe this particular friend continues to call YOU, time after time, rather than facing the issue with their spouse...rather than making tough choices about going to counseling.  Or.... 

How can saying no to an invitation to lead worship be a good thing?  Well, sometimes God has someone else in mind that He wants to lead worship (!!), but it's never going to happen if Bev keeps saying yes.  ("But they need me.  Don't they, Lord?")

How can it be a good thing to set boundaries on how many times my child goes out this weekend if all of the opportunities are things like ministering to the homeless, or going on an outing with the youth group, or similar "character-building" and "relationship-building" events?  Well, I'm convinced that sometimes it's more important for my teenager to have balance that includes an evening spending time with his own family, playing with (and/or enduring) his siblings, or sharing a meal with his parents.

Or how can it be a good thing to give someone permission to "crash" at your house, but then limit how many days they may stay?  Shouldn't we give unselfishly and without limit?  And yet, I have responsibilities clamoring for my attention - responsibilities that sometimes have names like "son" or "daughter" or "husband".  Responsibilities that threaten to overwhelm me, and yet fulfill my calling.  (Cloning, anyone?)

How can it be a good thing for me to leave behind a busy family - for days at a time - while I travel to Nashville?  And yet, I believe I am responding to God's call.  My family believes that too.  Regardless of what results do or do not surface, they see me begging God for direction, listening with all my heart, and then stepping out in faith to do things that are exhilarating and terrifying at the same time - things I know I have to do in order to say "yes" to God, regardless of why He's asking me to do it.  Things that inspire them to listen to God and take risks.

How can it be a good thing to work on a rewrite, when I know that there's a family member who would benefit from a leisurely phone conversation this afternoon?  Sometimes the "better thing" is the rewrite.  Sometimes the "better thing" is the phone call.  And I'll readily admit that I'm not always sure I can tell the difference.

Can you?  Can you tell the difference?

It's easy to tell the difference when you're saying no to the teenager who wants to go out with the buddy who is making bad choices, or saying no to the predictable sales call that resurfaces every morning just as you're brewing a cup of tea, or saying no to someone who has taken unfair advantage of your hospitality year after year with no thanks.  Those are easy.  But the easy decisions don't seem to surface all that often. 

I've made at least two decisions in the last week that I know were hard for the "receiver"...and yet I have no doubt that God was leading me to that decision.  Does that make it easier?  Maybe a little bit.  But it's still hard.   ....  This evening I am pryaing once again that God will speak to my heart on all of this.  I pray that He will affirm (or deny) that I've made right decisions for today as I lay my head on my pillow and enter the shadowed hours of night.  Sometimes He says "yes, that's what I had in mind" (and I sleep peacefully).  Sometimes He says "no, you messed up" (and I toss and turn).

At any rate, I am reminding myself - yet again - that someday God will make all things clear.  He'll make all things new.  He'll make all things whole.  He'll heal every wounded spirit.  He'll make every reason transparent.

Tonight I'm longing for "someday".  I think it should always be that way!

Signed,
Kumm Kwik Lee

Someone needs our help.  We're going to give it to him.  At the same time we simply must draw boundaries or we will self-destruct.  Self-destruct, ladies and gentlemen!  We don't have much margin in our lives these days, and this could push me over the edge. 

I'm not kidding.

So boundaries will be drawn, but it doesn't make it any easier.

Signed,
Cell Fish?

I just got back from an hour of one-on-one at the Apple store.  Scott asked me if I felt any smarter.  No, if anything I feel more stupid than when I went.  Which doesn't mean I didn't learn anything, but sometimes the more you know the more you realize you don't know.

Actually, it's almost like I just went to my first day of school - Kindergarten! - all excited about what there is to learn!!  Only to discover that everyone else has been in preschool for the last 2 years and is way ahead of me.

Signed,
Plae Ying Ketchup

"Anytime you try to make your mark, you'll attract erasers."

I like that.

Signed,
Mayk Uh Mehss