Changing It Up Already

So, I've changed the name of this blog already. I just didn't feel like my former title, "Charity's Musings" was appropriate. It was like an apology in the title. Like I was setting myself up for something unremarkable. It was like I was saying, "Well here are just some of my musings. They are really not that important. You can read them if you want, but you don't have to...." I've played around with the word "muse" for ideas for ministry because it has a double meaning for me. The first full phrase I ever said, the first words I put together as a toddler were, "muse me." I was walking down the hallway and one of my parents was in the way and I put my hand on their leg and said, "muse me." (of course, I meant "excuse me" if you hadn't gotten that) My first phrase was a polite little saying asking someone to move out of my way. Now, this is a good thing. Most parents, including mine, would be proud. However, for me I've lived a lot of my life that way. "Excuse me...." Living life too politely, not wanting to be too much. Not wanting to be in anyone's way or hating to ask for someone else to move out of mine.

A change started happening in me a few years ago. It was a culmination of many things, but really I just stopped apologizing for myself. About a year and a half ago, my pastor was preaching a sermon talking about those who had met Jesus after he was resurrected. He asked the question, "What would it look like for you to live like you've met the resurrected Jesus? How would people know that you've experienced the resurrection?"

Sitting in my pew, the word "fabulousness" popped into my head. I immediately tried to empty it out because that did not seem spiritual enough. However, I couldn't get away from it. In fact, as I grabbed my pen and church bulletin, I found myself writing, "To live resurrected means that I live into my own fabulousness and I help others to discover and live into their own fabulousness."

In the weeks to come, I realized that I could not get away from this statement. No matter how much I wanted to sound more like Mother Theresa, this was my calling. This is my statement for ministry and has become the mantra of my identity and calling.

For me fabulousness is not just about style and fashion. It is about owning who you are. It is about being confident about your gifts, not in an arrogant way but just being confident. It is knowing your gifts. It is about not spending your life apologizing for who you are or who you are not. It is about refusing to stand on the wall of life, but jumping in and participating. It is about not merely trying to blend in, hoping no one really notices you. It is about making the most of everything you are and not being afraid to shine.