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Rolling On the River

September 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

WARNING!!!  Finding yourself inside a hamster’s wheel spinning, spinning, spinning will cause DIZZINESS! 

The wheels keep spinning, you’re working your tail off, and you’re surviving with little breath to spare.  Working hard at the game of life and yet no breakthroughs; just treading, treading, treading.  Wait a minute…I hear Tina Turner playing in the background!  “Big wheel keep on turning/Proud Mary keep on burning/And we’re rolling, rolling/Rolling on the river”. 

I was rolling on the river alright, living the stagnant life not even enjoying the view from the boat.  Boredom was overtaking my existence.  Inspiration:  gone.  Focus:  farewell.  Drive:  oops, lost the license.  Joy was taken away from me at some point, but when?  Where did it go?  And, WHO took it?  Wait a minute!  Stay still.  I grabbed my Bible and went back to the drawing board.

Reading God’s word is better than any doctor’s prescription.  No medicine can heal the heart like God’s words. The Bible fills me with hope.  First, I must pray for the condition of my mind, heart, and vision.  One of my favorite verses is Matthew 6:22-23, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”  That’s it!  The first step back to joy was my sight! 

I do believe the enemy wants to steal our joy.  And often that joy is taken very smoothly.  It’s like we don’t even know what’s happening!  One day we’re flowing with honey and with no WARNING our vision, our sight is gone!  It may be days, months, even years before we recognize the dark cloud we’ve been walking in.  I had allowed certain influences which seemed okay enough into my life, while unknowingly they were killing my Spirit! 

His voice, like no other, is available to us before, during, and after office hours.  Around the clock care with an “open door” policy.  I find rest in knowing Jesus Christ and searching Him is where I reclaim my joy.  Rolling on the river with Jesus, that’s right Tina, watch out!

Jenny Krapf is a recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She is passionate about film-making, international travel, and her two dogs. Favorite word: Freedom


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The Courage to Run

July 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Habakkuk 2:2, ¶, and the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make [it] plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. …

While watching television with my daughter, I am intrigued by the times when the character will mentally avert from the scene.  A thinking bubble or foggy picture will show, and the character will daydream and imagine something different than what is the current reality.  This is similar to Raven, the character played by Raven Simone, in the now syndicated show “That’s so Raven”.  Raven had visions. I sometimes think I relate to scenes like these a little too well. I too have visions.  I have visions and dreams far beyond my current reality. A recurring vision is an extremely imaginative way of looking at my desire to do the work I love.

Think romance novel. Get a picture in your mind of the chic who is putting on an act to be in love with the perfect man. He is the man that makes sense. The one who provides for her, and is comfortable to her. The man who, from the outside looking in… all who know her would say “he’s so good for you.” She continues this charade, what else would she do. Everything she needs is right there. It is perfect from the outside looking in, but when the inside, starts to show its face on the outside, the story is different.

Imagine a wedding day scene.  Everything is perfect, the flowers, the guest are all there, the parents are happy with this most perfect choice of a husband for their daughter. White dress fits perfectly, fake smile on flawlessly made up face in place and the guests are in awe of it all. Then it happens, in a moment that, which is within, begins to come out. Her true love is standing there; he’s been there all the time.  He is the one who replaces her fake smile with pure passion; the one who replaces the comfortable with spontaneity and excitement, the one who replaces the mundane of the day-to-day routine with life (the action verb). She sees him standing there and finally lets her heart do the thinking, in a moment she runs to him without looking back and then her life begins.

Sometimes I dream of doing just that, running without looking back to the work I love. Just like the chic, running to also means running away. It means running away from the safe, the comfortable, and predictable. It means running away from the thing that currently provides and at times seems to make sense to everything and everyone except my heart and spirit.  I desire to do work that doesn’t feel like work. I want to go after my passion and purpose. Running away means waking up with expectation and anticipation, rather than waking up to another mundane day.  I want to run and not look back.

Just like the romance novel, I guess you would have to turn ahead a few pages in my book to see if I ever get the courage to run. In the mean time, I am preparing.  The author, my awesome God, is the only one who truly knows the right time. Until then, I will continue to turn page by page, preparing for the chapter when I embrace my true love.

Tracey Evans is an insurance underwriter who has a passion for writing. She enjoys developing programs attached to youth sports and extracurricular activities. Tracey is in the process of developing a ministry and organization, Moms of Champions and Champions Chance. Moms of Champions is a ministry of moms who pray for and encourage excellence in their children who participate in sports and other activities. Champions Chance is an organization in the making that will provide funding for children to find “their thing” and participate. She can be contacted at momsofchampions@yahoo.com.


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Fellowship All Around

June 3, 2011 By

One of my favorite things to do is grocery shopping!  Grocery shopping brings me peace, brings me joy, and brings me comfort.  I know it may sound a bit nuts but grocery shopping is not as much about stocking up the fridge as it is about building relationships. 

 There’s a lot of preparation prior to arriving to the grocery store.  First, I take an inventory of what I need and then I create a list.  Next, I look through coupons and then I finally create a budget.  I generally tend to stick with items on the list, unless of course there’s a manager’s special or buy-one-get-one free extravaganza.  If so, I’ll stock the freezer as if Revelations and the end of time is next week. 

With my list in hand and as I make my way to the entrance of the store, I wonder, “Who is working today?”  Over time, I’ve gotten to know many of the grocery store employees.  This is my favorite part of the shop - fellowshipping with the employees.  I enjoy hearing about their lives and experiences.  They’re so eager to tell me about themselves and I treasure their friendship. 

 I remember as kids, my mom made friends everywhere we went.  We didn’t usually meet strangers.  We visited the library and the staff came from behind the counter to greet us with a big smile. “Hello Krapf girls”, they’d say.  They were happy to see and update us on their lives and special events. 

I loved the feeling of being wanted, needed, and favored.  All these years later, I feel the same - it’s important to let people know they’re needed.  We all want to be wanted.  Bob in produce, Patrice in seafood, and Will in dairy want to be wanted.  So, as I make my way pass the granny smith apples and red seedless grapes, I hope to see Bob to ask about his daughter’s final exams, or Patrice whose grandkids visited from Mississippi. 

Grocery shopping is not only about stocking my cabinets with great food, but about fellowship.  God planted these very special people on my path, so I can give them encouragement!  They work hard to make sure I have the highest quality foods and I work hard to let them know how much I appreciate them.  I rely on them and I let them know how important they are. 

Many times, people are in such a rush and overwhelmed with life, that they don’t even have time for a smile.  We all need affirmation and words of encouragement. I know I do! 

 At the end of my visit at the grocery store, my cart is full and so is my heart; my friends are well and I’ve got some goodies!

So, next time you’re out and about, reach out to someone in fellowship and don’t forget to share a smile along the way.

Jenny Krapf is a recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She is passionate about film-making, international travel, and her two dogs. Favorite word: Freedom

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