A co-writing retreat weekend has come and gone.  I - absolutely - loved - it!!!  Got to learn massive amounts about writing - and about writers.  Faced some fears.  Stretched.  Swallowed hard.  Trusted.  Tapped into the myself, my co-writers and God.  And even experienced a few creative victories along the way.

Sometimes I hesitate to mention things like that.  Some of you were maybe there, and are thinking "Right on!"  Others of you maybe weren't, and feel discouraged to read about this kind of stuff happening "without you".  I've been there.  And I'll be there again.  No doubt about that.

So here's the thing.  One "procedure" from the event is, for me, a microcosm of the writer's entire life.  When it was time to dive into a morning or afternoon of co-writing, writers' names were drawn "out of a hat".  No one was matching you up based on genre, or experience, or perceived strengths and weaknesses.  No publisher was matching you up with an eye toward what kind of songs some artist is looking for.  No one was playing favorites and putting you with their favorite people...or vice versa.  No ifs, ands or buts about it.  God was in control of that! 

That realization allowed me to enter every single co-write knowing that "God knows".  He put me here.  He knows what I need to experience in order to grow as a writer.  And He even knows what I might have to offer another writer in the room - whether that being songwriting insight, or encouragement, or something else.  He knows. 

And that's the way ALL of life is - even though we tend to forget that.  We tend to think we can orchestrate events or people to better further our journey.  We maybe wonder whose wagon we should hitch ourselves to in order to get ahead.  We think - believe it or not - that we have control over our destiny.  Ha!

Work hard?  Yes.  Take chances?  Take advantage of opportunities?  Learn something new?  Trust God along the way?  YES!  Enjoy a speck of "control"?  Absolutely not.  Just like the "hat" - God already knows.  And He knows what's best.

The image of Joel reaching into that hat (okay - it wasn't really a hat) and nonchalantly pulling out names of writers in all kinds of crazy and unexpected combinations will never leave me.  And even though Joel was reaching in blindly, I can rest in the knowledge that God is actually reaching "into the hat" with perfect vision.  He's the one putting the pieces of my life together - with full knowledge and intentionality.  So much for the luck of the draw!

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Signed,
Hiz I Deeyuss R behst

Did you know that the "smart" in Smart Car is an acronym?  Apparently the Smart car company is a joint venture by Swatch (as in Swatch watches) and Mercedes.  So....

S = Swatch
M = Mercedes
ART  = art, as in a work of art

Tada!  Smart Car! 

Did you know you can change out the panels and get a new color any time you like?  (for a fee)  Pretty cool!  I guess the "presto change" idea is because Swatch is involved.

Did you know the  color choices are year-specific?  Last year I'm told you could buy orange or yellow, and probably some other color as well (?).  This year it's red, blue and white. 

Did you know that a Smart Car is one of the safest cars on the road?  I didn't!  ....  Roll cage.  Crumple zones.  You name it....

Did you know that people stare at you a lot when you drive one?  Well, they do in the U.S. anyway, where it's only been one year since they appeared.   Smart Cars have been on the other side of the pond for 11 years now.

Did you know that we took one home today?  Yes indeed!  ....  RALLY RED.   :)  It's never gonna fly for carpool, but since it's not for me that's okay.  Scott will be driving it to work.  (But I did make arrangements to pick up our youngest from school this afternoon.  He loved it!)

Signed,
Fee Linn Inn Tellih Jent

We watched a DVD in our LifeGroup last night - part of a longer series - and this segment was called "Created to Create".  Someone commented, "Bev, this should be right up your alley."  And it was, but not in the ways I expected.  It was quite diverse, with lots of food for thought.  Wow!  We could have talked about it for hours.

It brought to mind one of my very favorite quotes in the world.  So I think I'll share that with you - then braid my daughter's hair and call it a night.

“The place where God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”  --Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Signed,
Beeyee Gladd