I normally write these “Five Minute Fridays” in hopes that I will actually motivate myself to write a full-length blog. I’m guessing that day will come on Monday (supposing Camping’s prediction isn’t true, of course). Anyway, the writing prompt for this week is “Seasons Change.” The theme could not be more fitting for my life at this very moment.

So here we go! Five minute Friday… Seasons Change.

When I think about seasons I don’t think about changes in the weather or holidays – I think about clothes. I think about blazers and boots in the fall, I think about pretty sweaters in the winter, summer brings an array of flip flops to choose from, and the spring means light, colorful cardigans. When seasons change, my wardrobe follows.

But when it comes to seasons changing in life, I’m not as easily adaptable. I like change – in fact, I welcome it. However, life changes seem to be more daunting than trying to decide on what to pack for a week long vacation. And we all know how daunting THAT can be.

And just as the weather changes, we know when it’s time to trade out the cardigans for the flip flops or the suede boots for the galoshes.

I have this feeling that a season of change is upon me. Just like you can see the leaves turn color, I can tell when my life is about to shift. I have an idea about when it’s going to happen, I just don’t know how. I wish I knew exactly where I was going. All I know is that I’m on my way. And all I can do to prepare is to wear an attitude of strength, confidence, fearlessness (as much as possible anyway), and a have a full reliance on God and understanding that He is bigger than anything I’ll face in my life.

Seasons may change, but God never does. And knowing that, I can handle going wherever this life will take me next.

Per the request of my dear friend Jessica, I give you another “Five Minute Friday” blog.  This week’s prompt: “If I Knew I Could I Would…”:

If I knew I could I would be a professional singer.  I say this because yesterday was my day off and I got sucked in to watching a special on Miranda Lambert.  I love her sassiness, pink guitar, and her rock star flair (even though she’s a country singer.)  I have “writing” talent, but I wish I could really funnel that into songwriting.  I already have a blue guitar, I’ve got LOADS of sassy and I think that if given the opportunity that I just might have what it takes to take my show on the road.

I also like the fact that she’s soon to be married to Blake Shelton.  That’s another part of the dream.  Not only would I want to be a pro musician, I wouldn’t mind being married to one either.  I’d love having a “Partridge Family” style type of family.  I think it’s a reasonable dream.

I’m not sure why God gave me the talents and abilities He did and I’m not sure if just because I traveled one path that I can’t change direction now.  Why shouldn’t I try?  I love music so much, but instead of wanting to be a music journalist and write about it, I should actually try my hand at making some.  Seriously.  Why JUST write about it if you can also do it?  I prefer to be in the game rather than just watching from the sidelines.

So there’s the answer to the question: if I knew I could, I would be a bona fide (?) musician.  Hannah Montana had the best of both worlds and I know I can too.

I’ve been working on compiling pictures for a video I’m making for my aunt and uncle’s 50^th wedding anniversary.  Thanks to my parents’ obnoxiously large tub of pictures, I’ve been able to find a few “gems” to include in the video.  Hey, to be fair, they knew what they were getting into assigning me to this project.

What I didn’t expect when taking on this project is that I would be unlocking a time capsule.  I found two old copies of Newsweek (which my mom guesses were mine – I was a very intellectual 3-year-old), pictures of my grandfather in the military, and a picture of my mom in the 70s standing next to a man who she says is a cop and I claim to be Kareem Abdul Jabbar… my real dad.  Then again, my argument holds no weight seeing as how I also uncovered pictures of my actual father and there’s no denying I belong to him – eyebrows, puffy cheeks, long eyelashes and all. It’s completely undeniable.  Plus, the fact that my athletic skills are lacking and I’m not African-American also unraveled my paper-thin argument.  Darn.  Just when I thought I uncovered a scandal.

The real shock came when, in the middle of the copies of Newsweek no less, I found a note I “detedcated” to my mom.  We figured that I must have written it when I was about six or seven.  At least I hope I did.  Just kidding.

The note is covered in stars, a self-portrait (where I have EXCELLENT hair and am wearing a headband – thank you, 6-year-old me), a drawing of my mom wearing a red evening gown (so fancy), a spaceship complete with an arrow pointing to it saying, “space ship” in case there was any doubt (and there was), and last but certainly not least, prophetic words.

In between the stars and family portraits were things like, “I love Jesus,” “Jesus is my friend,” “Jesus is God,” (apparently I had a good grasp on the Trinity and theology in general at that age), and probably the most prophetic statement of them all, “Written by Nicole Perez.”  Somewhere in that little spirit of mine God planted His desires for my life and I unknowingly wrote them down.  Clearly, talking about Jesus meant I was bound to go to bible college and this whole “Written by Nicole Perez” thing meant I was supposed to be a writer (which, we all can agree on is a work in progress).

I stood there staring at the note for the longest time because I couldn’t believe how, at this young age, I basically wrote down my life goals.  More amazing even still was the fact that I uncovered this note right about the time I needed to be reminded why I’m on this planet: to love God, love others, and to be a writer (for whatever purpose that may be).  Pretty simple, but man, I’m really good at complicating things.  Let me explain…

I complicate things by worrying too much about the big picture of my life’s purpose.  I do that by asking questions like, “Okay, Lord, so I’m supposed to be a writer, but why am I writing stuff for a bible college that most people won’t even see instead of being somewhere like CNN?” or “If I’m supposed to be good at loving others, then why don’t I make more of an effort to bless and build them up instead of ignoring needs or letting relationships fall by the wayside?” and let’s not forget, “Lord, if I’m supposed to be good at loving You, then why is it so difficult for me to pray, read my bible, go to church, and be more involved in reaching out to Your world?”

See? A simple life mission complicated by thought-provoking yet energy and time-sucking questions.

I call them time-sucking because the time I spend dwelling on/asking those questions could be time spent putting action behind my mission.  If I want to spend more time with God and be better at loving Him and serving others, I need to stop talking about it and start doing something.  If I want to be better at relationships, then I need to start by taking the time to invest in the people in my life.  And if I want to be a better writer or push my career in a different direction, then I got to put the pen to the paper and crank out articles or books while I’m cranking out resumes.

Sound overwhelming?  It is.  That’s going to take a lot of time, courage, and work to accomplish – as all life missions are.  But, like my note, we have to keep it simple.  Here’s how:

What can you do today to fulfill your life mission?  If you’re an encourager, say something encouraging to someone, preferably someone you don’t know.  If you’re an artist, make something to display in your home or to give as a gift.  If you’re a parent, go love on your kids.  If you’re a friend, give your friend a call, or a hug, or send them a note to let them know you’re thinking about them.  If you’re a human on this planet, smile or do a random act of kindness for someone else just to remind them that they’re someone who matters too (we all have that life mission).  Whatever it is you do, just do it!

Whoever you are, whatever you do, whatever it is you stand for, do something to fulfill your life mission today.  And if you’re looking for a little inspiration about finding yours, here’s a hint: if you’re doing it right, your purpose in life will be 99.9% about others and the rest will be about you.  Trust me.  That’s how it works.

Now go out there and live well, play hard, and love deeper.  At the end of the day you’ll find yourself to be more productive in accomplishing your life mission than a plastic surgeon in Hollywood.

So thank you 6-year-old self for that helpful reminder.  It’s good to know you still love Jesus, your mommy is still fancy, writing is still fun, and encouragement never goes out of style.  Oh, and thanks for the awesome self-portrait… bangs and headbands were a good idea.

There’s this blogger out there (see link here: http://thegypsymama.com/2011/04/five-minute-friday-if-you-met-me/) who does a weekly blog challenge called “Five Minute Friday.”  You have five minutes to blog about whatever without any edits and then she gives away prizes.  I don’t need a prize – I just saw a challenge and thought, “challenge, accepted.”  So here we go.  Five minutes of my Friday just for you:

This week has been a good week.  From last Friday to this Friday, I’ve spent a lot of time with some of my best friends.  It’s been a while since I’ve been able to do that.  I miss my high school and college days when everyone was just there.  If I wanted to hang out, I could just make a phone call or yell across the hall.  Now it takes some real time to make plans.  You have to figure out schedules, locations, finances to cover gas/food/adventure essentials, and sometimes it feels like such a huge production just to get together with someone.  I miss the times of just going to the park because you lived in the same town.  I miss hanging out at Wal-Mart trying on Halloween costumes and taking pictures because it was fun and there really was just nothing better to do.  Most of all, I really miss just having some of my best friends living within a ten mile radius.  While I’m thankful for all of the friends I’ve made since, well, I was able to socialize, I really just wish it were easier to spend more time with them and that our neighborhoods, real or imagined, were a little bit closer.  And even though I couldn’t and wouldn’t really want to bring our neighborhoods together because I’m glad for the various paths my friends have traveled that have taken them all around the world, I’m thankful for the time I did have with them and the time I will have with them in the future.  They’re worth the big production.

I consider myself to be a well-balanced individual, particularly when it comes to interests and hobbies.  Although I’m a girly girl who (fake) weeps at the sight of a beautiful purse and can’t get enough of sparkly, peep toe heels, I am extremely secure with the fact that I am also in touch with my masculine side.  Let me explain.

I can talk about cars with the same reverence and knowledge as I do about shoes.  I consider one of the greatest birthday gifts I ever received was my car stereo with the iPod hookup.  I drool over technology, I LOVE football (and most sports, but football is #1 in my book), and I will take a good action flick over most romantic comedies any day.  It’s just how I work and I actually enjoy the fact that I can play with the girls and roll with the boys.

All that to say, I have a special place in my heart for superheroes.  I kinda mentioned this before in a previous blog, but this time I’m really touching on my nerdy love for a man in tights with a thirst for justice and/or vengeance (wow, that kinda sounds like a really horrible ballet).

My favorite thing about superheroes is that they show no fear of their enemy.  They could very well be shaking in their knee-high plastic boots, but they’re not gonna show it.  And why not?  Because they know that showing their fear card will only give the enemy the advantage and it’s game over.

This is the reason superheroes are so popular: they fearlessly face their enemies and even if they don’t win the first round, they always come back and win when it counts.  Superman did it, Batman did it, and even Rocky didn’t win until the second film.

One thing that separates us from the superheroes (well, besides superhuman abilities and/or millions of dollars to turn us into superheroes – hello, Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne), is that they usually anticipate their enemy and when they get hit they usually fight back.

Me, I’m not always good at anticipating the bully.  It’s usually not until I’m wiping tears and nursing cuts that I even realize I’ve been hit.  I haven’t literally taken a punch since my jr. high fightin’ days, but I’ve endured plenty of hurtful actions and words since then that have taken its toll on my mind and heart.  But who really anticipates someone else saying or doing something really stupid to them and vice versa?

Feeling the bruises of recent stupidity being thrown upon me, it took a simple song to bring things back into perspective for me.  As I was sitting in a meeting yesterday, a student quietly sang to herself a song that I had only ever heard my parents sing to me when I was a little girl.  I don’t know the name of the song, but it was a sweet little church song that my parents would sing anytime I was scared or going through a bad time.  While I don’t remember the name of the song, it’s basically about the fact that when God’s on your side, nothing can come against you.

Hearing that song instantly transported me to this one night when I woke up from a bad dream and went to my dad for comfort.  I remember him turning on the light on his nightstand, opening his bible, reading Psalm 91 and singing that song while he had one arm holding me close to him.  It didn’t take long for me to feel secure and able to face whatever the rest of the night or the following day would hold for me.

So when I heard this song being softly muttered through the student’s lips, I felt an instant rush of comfort.  The words of the song were like balm to my wounds and I felt a surge of strength as I was reminded that a thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my right hand, but none will come near me (Psalm 91:7).  I might feel a little arrow grazing, but with God on my side, nothing can touch me.

Whether or not you’re a fan of the superheroes like I am, you know you wouldn’t mind a little protection.  Think about it.  You would feel pretty confident facing up to your bullies if your superhero of choice was on standby ready to defend at a moment’s notice.  I know I would.  I could face all kinds of bullies, literal or figurative, if someone who was stronger and more powerful than my bully was always at my side.

The thing is, you do have someone better than a superhero ready to defend and protect you.  God is there ready to protect us, always anticipating enemy attack.  What we (or at least I) fail to do is to call on Him for help.  Most of the time He’ll act on our behalf without a request, while other times we need to shout for assistance.  It’s not that He doesn’t see our needs or won’t be there to offer protection, it’s just that sometimes we need to be reminded that we can’t fully rely on our own strength to beat down our foes.

And while I can’t sing you my special song through this blog (mostly because I can’t remember all the words and I just don’t do videos of myself), I’ve included Psalm 91 for you to read.  Take it to heart and let this truth sink in: God is your protector and with Him on your side, you’re untouchable in His grasp.  Even the best superheroes can’t guarantee that.

So the next time the bullies come out swinging, remember that you’re not alone and are protected by the Hero who doesn’t need a cape or tights to fight on behalf of the ones He loves (Lois Lane could only be so lucky).

Psalm 91

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

I’m not entirely sure when it happened or how it happened, but I became a full-fledged fan of Robert Pattinson.  I can point to the exact moment I first “fell in love” with Brad Pitt and Matt Damon, but where Mr. Pattinson’s concerned, I have no idea.  But I know it happened because when I got word that the trailer for his new movie Water for Elephants was online I squealed excitedly then watched that sucker over and over again.  I just couldn’t get enough.

But it wasn’t just Mr. Pattinson’s famous brooding that captured my attention.  I was completely mesmerized by everything from the actors to the costumes to how the scenes nearly matched what I pictured in my head while reading the book.  The more I watched, the more my excitement grew for this movie…. and for seeing Rob in a tux. In the words of ZZ Top, “Every girl’s crazy ‘bout a sharp dressed man.” Well, at least this girl is.

Anyway, once I was able to pick my mouth up off the floor and push through my haze of excitement, I noticed these words weaved through stunning images of circus life and R-Patz:

“There is your path”

“There is your struggle”

“And there is your destiny”

To me, those words were spun as sweetly as cotton candy and carried more weight than a parade of elephants.  While I knew those statements specifically related to the story, I couldn’t help but think how they relate to our own stories as well.

Without giving anything away (which I can’t really do anyway since I haven’t finished reading the book), the story is about this guy who had great plans for his life, tragedy struck, and his life was set on a much different, much wilder course.  Although his circumstances are uncommon (he ends up in a circus, hello!), the storyline is pretty basic – so much so that many of us have already lived out this story in one way or another.

We’ve all had dreams or expectations of where our lives would go and are surprised at where we actually end up.  At least that’s how things have gone for me.  If you would’ve told me ten years ago that I would be starting a career in journalism, still unmarried (ouch), and not working at a church, I would’ve thought you were crazy.  Why? Because who I am now is far from who I thought I would be when originally creating my plan A.  In fact, I think I may have already surpassed plans B, D, and possibly even Z.

But you know what?  I’m okay with that.  I had a “path” all planned out.  When things didn’t pan out as planned, I “struggled” to find my way – but eventually I did and it just so happens that my “destiny” is already so much better than the path I initially carved out for myself.  I’m always glad when, despite the struggle, things turn out for the best.

As for Jacob Jankowski, I don’t know how his story ends just yet.  Although he had to face major tragedy, I’m sure he’s thankful for the struggles and the pain that led him to the life of love and adventure that he might have missed out on had he traveled his planned course.  I know I’m grateful for the tragedies and triumphs I’ve endured and I’m looking forward to trekking through the un-traveled road that lies ahead for me.

So when things don’t go as planned, look at it as opportunity and another stride towards your destiny.  There’ll be times when you’re put in charge of the elephants (massive pooper scooper, anyone?) and other times when you’ll be flying higher than a trapeze artist.  Whatever the case, enjoy the circus – it may be crazy and full of freaks, but when done right is full of wonder, magic, and sweet memories. And, if you’re lucky, it’ll also have cute boys in tuxedos carrying water for elephants (well, there will be in my circus anyway… and candy… and popcorn… and lots of glitter. LOTS.) =)

For your viewing pleasure, the trailer for Water for Elephants (Not sure why the video isn’t embedded directly in here, but whatever):

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS – OFFICIAL TRAILER

Author’s Note: The events you are about to read are 100% true.  Some have only heard me tell the tale and even fewer still were eyewitnesses.  Whether or not you have already heard my story, please stay tuned to the end because other than talking about one of the top ten best days of my life, I have a point that relates to you.  So hang tight!

And here we go…

Anyone who knows me knows that I am an American Idol fan to the nth degree.  I’ve been a fan since I first saw Kelly Clarkson belt out “Natural Woman” and I stayed a fan through the horrors of Sanjaya, Danny Noriega, and pretty much all of season nine.  And for the record, I’m digging this new season with J-Lo and Steven Tyler – there’s a lot more heart, hair, and flair at the judge’s table now. (Cue Steven Tyler scream: “Waaaaaaooooooohhhhh!!!)

Over the years, my world has intersected with the AI world.  I’ve been to the taping of one finale, I’ve attended regular tapings, and I’ve also seen a couple of the former Idols in concert.  Not too bad for your average AI fan.

Interview Day at KKGO in Westwood, CA - 11/17/09

And just when I thought my fan experience had reached its pique, season eight, Danny Gokey, and a God-appointed internship at a major news network (hint: starts with a “C” and ends with two “N”s) came along.

The short of the long of it (really, I promise) is that I was a fan of Gokey’s from the second I saw him.  Even before the Seacrest voiceover started telling his story, I knew right away I would be a fan.  So, to say I was disappointed when he got cut before his time (even though he made it all the way to the top three) is a HUGE understatement.  Lucky for me, this wouldn’t be the last time I would see or hear him.

Fast-forward to the following November.  Through an unforeseen, miraculous series of events, I found myself sitting across from him, trying to hold it together while conducting my first professional interview.  Thankfully, he was just as warm and kindhearted as he seemed on tv and the interview went off without a hitch (well, other than saying “that’s great” a million times because my nerves were shot).  To put it simply, this day quickly shot up to my top ten best days ever.

And then came August.

Two Flying Elvi after a successful landing! One hit a tree.

The following summer, I heard he was going to be playing in Reno, Nevada, close to where my family lives.  In the blink of an eye, I packed up my things and my friend, and headed up north.  Family, Gokey, and the Flying Elvi is a winning vacation combination (it was happy happenstance that the Flying Elvi made an appearance during my trip.  Who doesn’t love skydiving Elvi?)

I had no expectations for the concert other than having a good time seeing one of my favorite artists – and I’m happy to say I was not disappointed.  The opening acts were great and he was just phenomenal.  Again, long story made shorter than you think, the good stuff was just around the corner.

Even though I had no expectations, I had hoped that maybe he would remember me if there was an opportunity to talk after the show.  I didn’t expect him to remember me seeing as how nine months and an unnumbered amount of interviewers had crossed his path since I crossed his.  I figured best case scenario I’d talk to him and worse case, I would just enjoy a good show and go home happy.  It was a win-win situation.

DG @ The Knitting Factory - Reno, NV - 8/10/10

What I didn’t know was that I was about to win “lottery style” because a few songs later he stopped the show, pointed and waved at me, and said, “I know you! CNN! You interviewed me! It’s so good to see you again!” In shock, I responded best I could and suddenly felt the weight shift in the room as all eyes from the floor to the balcony were on me.  Instantly, this night became a permanent fixture in my top ten best days ever.

When I called my family later to tell what happened, I said to my mom, “It was just like my New Kids on the Block dream! You know, the one where Joey McIntyre would point me out in a crowd???” Finally! I got a return on all of that change I invested in multiple wishing wells.  And you know what, even though the name and the face changed in the dream, the fulfillment was just as amazing. (P.S. I did eventually meet Joey in 2005. Ha ha!)

And now that you’ve hung with me throughout this story, here comes your reward: the point of this blog.

I’m sure that I’m not the first or will even be the last person to have that dream – the dream of being pointed out in a crowd by someone you admire.  It’s an amazing feeling to be acknowledged or recognized (especially in this kind of way) when a lot of the time you just feel invisible.  And anyone who’s ever known what it feels like to feel invisible or unheard, it can be an awful and, at times, devastating feeling.

The good news is that you are seen.  God sees you even when it feels as though others don’t.  He also hears you. Even when you feel He’s gone silent or deaf, He’s still there listening to you, hanging on your every word.  The God of this universe knows you, He watches over you, and even your deepest thoughts are not hidden from Him.  I mean, how amazing it is that the One who created this universe sees YOU and speaks to YOU???  That’s just crazy sauce! (In the best way possible, of course!)

Knowing that God sees you, it’s not a duty then but a privilege to pay it forward by taking the time, even if just for a moment, to acknowledge others.  A smile is a simple way of letting someone know they are seen.  Even a quick hello could remind someone they matter.

You can take it even further by asking someone’s name and engaging in conversation.  Acknowledgement matters more than you think – someone knowing they’re visible and cared for could very well be the difference between life and death.

Take it from me: acknowledgement can be life-giving and heart-changing.  When you’re in your community don’t just be seen, but see.  Look a stranger in the eye and say hi.  You never know – a smile and hello from you could make all the difference in someone else’s world.  It did for me =).

I started writing a different blog yesterday but it just didn’t feel right for this week. While talking to my mom about my need for inspiration, she suggested I write about Oprah.  I won’t tell you how we got to that point, but we got there and, well, let’s just move forward and not question that decision-making.

Now, back to the blog….

Oprah, or as my friend Marilyn once called her, “Hope-rah,” is a force to be reckoned with.  She is the ultimate, non-red headed orphan version of the rags to riches story.  Her resume includes everything from broadcasting to acting to now owning her own magazine and television network – Annie and friends could only be so lucky.  All of us could be so lucky.

Standing at the beginning of my career in journalism while agonizing over the lack of response to my job applications, I asked myself, “What would Oprah do?” I’m sure many people not even in the journalism industry have asked themselves the same thing.  I mean, really, how does one go from being a poor girl living in the South to becoming one of the richest people on this planet? It’s dumbfounding, but apparently possible to accomplish. (Here’s a link to her story in case you’re interested: http://bit.ly/Qdj3M)

So now let’s go back to my conversation with my mom about Ms. Winfrey.  We didn’t talk about Oprah’s fame or fortune.  We didn’t even mention her background or her future.  What immediately came up in our conversation is what Oprah does with her wealth: she gives it away.

Interesting.

The key to becoming wealthy like Oprah is to give it all away.

So simple, yet it’s sometimes so difficult to do.

But let’s think about this for a moment.  Oprah, while famous for her many accomplishments, is probably more well known for her annual “Favorite Things” episodes on her talk show.  Come on, you know you’ve heard at least one person you know joke around saying, “You get a car! And you get a car!” I say it pretty often in my nearly spot-on Winfrey warble.

This year, when no one thought it was possible, she upped her giveaway game by sending her entire audience on a trip to Australia – and that was on top of giving away more cars, Apple products, and everything else including the kitchen sink (I’m sure it was in there somewhere).

The best part about these “favorite things” episodes was watching people just lose their minds! Strangers embraced each other, people started dancing and jumping in the aisles, and best yet, they would scream and pull at their hair.  It was extreme mayhem.  I can only compare what I saw on tv to what it’s like being right smack dab in the middle of a boy band concert.  Don’t hate, just appreciate.

Eventually, the camera pans back to Oprah and you see this look of exhilaration and emotion on her face.  She is pleased to please and looks as though she truly enjoys her role as a real life fairy godmother.

People have come to expect this giving attitude and action of Oprah.  They expect it not because they are benefactors, but because they have watched her give of her time, talents, and resources over the years.  She doesn’t just give away cars and trips – she’s not a game show – she gives an ear to listen, a voice to the voiceless, and, when necessary, words of comfort and advice to others in and outside of her studio.  That to me is encouraging because that means anyone can be Oprah.

As much as I would love to give away cars, houses, and the occasional makeover to friends and strangers, I can’t fund what my heart wants to bestow.  I do however have time to listen, encouragement to dish out, and plenty of other non-material resources to offer.  And, when the pocketbook allows, I can whip up a pretty awesome care package to brighten someone’s day.  It’s true.  I have supernatural cornbread making and cd mixing abilities. =)

I encourage you to ask yourself every day “What would Oprah do?”  Maybe you can give away a car (do it!) or maybe you can only give away a hug (do that too!).  But whatever it is you have to give, give it away.  You’ll soon find that success has more to do with what you give than what you take.  I’m sure my girl Oprah would agree. =)

As a bonus for all you Oprah fans, here’s a hilarious remix of “You Get a Car.” You might want to fast forward through the first minute to get to the good stuff.  Enjoy!

Superbowl Sunday was special this year.  I woke up with a smile on my face and felt like a kid on Christmas day.  I couldn’t wait to get to church to show off my Green Bay shirt and get harassed by Steelers fans who unknowingly awaited glorious defeat by my Packers.  It was a beautiful day.

So to say I was a bit distracted in church is somewhat of an understatement.  My attention was flipping between the pastor’s sermon and wondering how my team was prepping for the big game.  I love God more than anything, but football is pretty high on my list as well.

As the pastor preached, my mind was brought back to the sanctuary when he started talking about Noah (yeah, the guy with the floating circus).  He wondered aloud what Noah must have gone through while building the ark.  In the 120 years it took him to complete the world’s first nautical transport (in the middle of the desert, no less) he must have put up with some serious mocking from the town folk.

To be fair, I probably would’ve thought he was a nut job too.  I mean, building a boat when you’re not close to a sea and talking about a flood when the forecast is sunny with no chance of precipitation for 120 years – yeah, this guy was off his rocker… or whatever they used to sit on back then.

But despite the ceaseless mocking and consistently sunny forecast, Noah kept building.

I pondered this concept for a while.  There was no rain, just a command.  There was no model to follow, just a heavenly blueprint.  There was no guarantee the rain would come, just belief.  Bottom line, in the face of adversity, mockery, doubt, and an overextended dry season, Noah kept doing what he knew to do – building and believing.

And while quite some time has passed since the world’s first cruise line took sail, the lesson is still very much relevant.

Some might think this story is simply about obedience – of course it is.  But if you look deeper, it’s about someone who kept building and believing even when it was beyond him to understand the purpose of his handiwork.  How is someone supposed to understand rain when they’ve only seen sunshine?  Why would someone think a floating zoo is a good idea, like, ever?  None of it made sense yet he kept plugging away year after year, doubt after doubt, boat on dry land after boat on dry land.

Then, somewhere between hearing about Noah and thinking about how cute I look in Packer green, something clicked – I’m Noah, you’re Noah, we’re all Noah.  God has given each of us purpose and planted dreams in our hearts, but it’s up to us if we’re going to follow through on that mission or hang out with the naysayers.

The good/bad news is that sometimes you’re going to have to get a little crazy to do what’s right and fulfill your purpose.  There are times when you’ll have to stare down the mockers and fight their doubt as well as your own.  I’m sure even Noah questioned his actions (and God) a time or two in those building years.  There’s no way he didn’t have at least one bad day where he wanted to put down his tools for good and go tanning.

Everyone has days like that where they start questioning even their best efforts, but the point is that he kept building and pushing through until completion.  End result: he saved himself, his family, two of every animal on this planet, and proved to be the greatest example of obedience this world has ever known.  Not too bad for the village crazy.

It’s not easy building an ark in a dry land.  It’s sometimes difficult to assemble a boat when there’s little to no water in sight.  None of your efforts seem to make sense and it’s difficult to push through blind obedience when you’re battling doubt and mockery.  Trust me, I’ve been there.

To prove it, here’s a quick recap of my resume: went to bible college, got a degree in theology, worked at bible college, laid off, went to grad school, interned at major news network, got a degree in journalism, working at bible college again.  I went full circle when instead I wanted to walk a straight line.

In the middle of all of this, people from both worlds questioned my life path.  Some well-meaning ministers/parishioners asked me if I was walking away from the church when I first entered journalism (um, no).  Meanwhile, some unbelieving journalists asked me (more out of pure curiosity) how and why I made the jump from the Dead Sea to the beat.  Here’s my answer to all of you: I was told to build so I just kept building.

I still have no idea why I went to bible college before going into journalism.  I don’t know if I was just a 17-year-old kid without much career guidance who took the safe path or if God had a bigger purpose for me by walking this unconventional path.  More than likely it’s door number two.  I’m believing it’s door number two.

To be completely honest (not that I haven’t been up to this point), I have days at my part-time, bible college, semi-journalistic related job where I just don’t get it.  I question why, with all the building I’ve done, that I’m back in the place I worked so hard to leave.  It’s not a bad place, it’s just that I figured by now I’d be charting different waters.  Instead, I’m still here building believing one day I’ll set sail on my ocean of promise.

You may be in the middle of building your own ark – tools and fuzzy blueprints in hand – not really knowing the point of your hard labor.  But whether you’re at the stage of putting on the finishing touches or barely rolling out the blueprints, trust in God, believe in yourself, and keep on building because one day soon you’ll be on a boat.

Celebrities and rehab facilities go together like peanut butter and jelly, white and rice, Justin Timberlake and me (supposing the opportunity presented itself), and chips and salsa.  For whatever reason, the famous ones just can’t seem to keep themselves out of treatment facilities.  Whether they’re in there by court order (ahem, Miss Lohan) or because they just sucker punched someone (hello, Demi!), they’re checking in faster than… well, Lindsey checks in and out of them.  And even though extreme circumstances might have led celebs to seek treatment, I for one am glad that they (or whoever put them in there) saw the value in taking a timeout.

Positive and negative things can be easily distracting and clog up our lives and ways of thinking.  Crazy schedules, obsessing over the future, crying over the past and present – these can all get in the way of moving forward.  While it’s okay and absolutely necessary to take care of our present needs while planning for the future, it shouldn’t consume us to the point of shutting down and losing hope.  This is what happened to me (but we’ll get to that later).

No matter where you’re at in your life, we all need a timeout.  Even God took a break after creating the earth and He’s God!

Taking a break doesn’t always literally mean going on a vacation.  Some people have that luxury while most only have a moment to stop, close their eyes, and imagine themselves somewhere far beyond their worries (I’m part of the latter group).  Either way, vacating life for even a moment can be just what the doctor ordered.

Case in point, I had to give myself an indefinite break from this blog (I’m back now, by the way).  My creativity was suffering major blockage because my head and heart just wasn’t in the right place.  It’s pretty hard to create and communicate when you’re living in a heavy fog.

I quickly found that allowing myself a timeout helped me to regroup and fanned my desire to write again.  Prior to my hiatus, I pretty much loathed writing and questioned if I even had the goods much less the desire to be a journalist.  Thank God I had enough sense to just stop, take time to breathe, and turn that mountain back into a molehill.

Unfortunately, this good sense didn’t follow me into every area of my life.  I spent so much time worrying about my future and longing for the past that I nearly missed out on the best parts of the present.

So one day after having a mini breakdown when my mom asked, “How are you?” she advised me to put myself in timeout… and I did… and it worked.

I’m not entirely sure why, but I needed to hear someone give me permission to let go of everything that was bringing me down.  The words “It’s okay to stop for awhile” was the heavy rain I needed to end this season of drought in my life.  That brief yet meaningful conversation turned my world right side up again.

So now I’m going to pay it forward.  If you need a timeout, take one.  Give yourself a break from the things that are robbing you of your time, your sleep, your patience, or your hope.  It’s not your job to be God – it’s His – so step aside and let the Creator recreate you.  He wrote your owner’s manual so let Him take care of troubleshooting you.

Also, enjoy the break. Use your time to refocus, de-clutter your life, and clean out whatever is blocking you from moving forward.  And if all that sounds like too much for you, then just enjoy the rest.  Taking time to stop and breathe can do wonders for your life and your complexion.  Why do you think day spas are so popular? 🙂

As for myself, I’m mixing a little business with pleasure.  In the middle of my rest I’m working on cleaning out all anything that would try to distract me, drag me down or fill me with self-doubt.  It’s important for me to do this because when I’m ready to break out of rehab, I’m breaking out clean.

Now kick back, relax, and enjoy rest from the hassles of life.  And, unlike Amy Winehouse’s little diddy, when they try to make you go to rehab you just go, go, go! A timeout can only serve you well.  It did for me :).