R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Thoughts
“I have accepted fear as a part of life—specifically the fear of change…I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says: turn back.” ~Erica Jong
Cathy Newton has been a speaker at one of my Midlife Divorce Recovery Boot Camps. She’s wonderful and fun! As the back of her book Living in Full Swing says, she is “an inspirational speaker, workshop facilitator and author who helps professionals take on challenge, improve performance and regain energy through purposeful risk taking” She does the same for women who are facing midlife divorce and want to move forward. She tells a story about living in an old remodeled farmhouse and her discovery of a 5 foot long black snake in the crawl space of their “unremodeled cellar laundry room.” Her husband who had grown up on a farm told her that black snakes were “good snakes.” He got her a book and told her about why black snakes were actually good to have around your house. (Not IN your house, but close by.) Armed with new information to quiet her pounding heart, Cathy grew to accept “Blackie,” and saw him on several other occasions. She faced her fear. What are your snakes? What do you fear? Learn about it. Evaluate its real threat. Get information and tools to deal with it. I am speaking at an International Christian Conference at Pepperdine University in a few days. I’m dealing with a few fears of my own. But a deep breath and a recognition of the value of sharing my divorce story to help others give me new courage. And the God of the universe has promised to give me a spirit of power and love and self-control as well. I’m going to keep “my snake” in a place where it can do some good. What’s your snake today? Don’t let it stop your journey forward. Face it … despite the temporary pounding of your heart!
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity and fear, but a spirit of power and love and self control.” 2 Timothy 1:7
NOTE: I AM LEAVING FOR PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY TOMORROW MORNING AND WILL BE THERE UNTIL SATURDAY EVENING. I WILL TRY TO DO MY BLOG AS USUAL, BUT SOMETIMES IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET ONLINE AND POST A NEW ENTRY. JUST PICK OUT SOME OLD ENTRIES TO READ OR SEND ME A POST OF YOUR OWN. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR INPUT ON THIS BLOG AS WELL. YOU CAN SEND ME YOUR THOUGHTS JUST IN AN E-MAIL OR YOU CAN ATTACH A WORD DOCUMENT. SEND TO MY suzysuccess@kc.rr.com address. THANKS! I WISH YOU ALL COULD BE AT THIS CONFERENCE. IT'S 3 1/2 DAYS FROM 7:00 A.M. 'TIL 11:00 P.M. OF HUNDREDS OF LECTURES TO GO TO. IT'S AN AMAZING, REFRESHING, INVIGORATING TIME. IF YOU'RE CLOSE TO MALIBU, COME ON OVER! THERE IS NO CHARGE TO HEAR ANY OF THE LECTURES. GO TO www.midlifedivorcerecovery.com and go to the Empowering Events button and at the bottom of that page will be a link to information about the "Pepperdine Lectures." Also pray that the people who need what I have to share will come and be encouraged. Thanks.
