Almost a year ago, I closed the door on many of the things that were familiar to me. I sold my home. I sold my belongings. I quit my job. All because I needed a break, and God told me that it was ok. That I could trust Him. That He would take care of me. And you know, He's not a liar.
I've made it no secret, much of the time, I did not enjoy being on sabbatical. But, these last few months, that all changed. I finally sank into it, and started to see what God was trying to show me.
The past few months, even though I was enjoying this time, I was starting to get anxious about the future. I applied for a few jobs, and God SLAMMED those doors shut. He didn't gently close them, He made it abundantly clear that they were not for me.
Ok, God. That was my prayer, that you would close doors if those weren't the very best of what you had for me.
But...this year off is coming to an end, and my financial resources are running on fumes. I've been offered jobs left and right over the past 12 months, and now it's been crickets.
In the midst of my growing concern, I simply prayed this prayer. "God, you have always chosen to speak to me in the big moments of my life in a very specific manner. If you are speaking to me differently this time, please let me hear you. I don't want to miss what you have planned for me, and I trust you. I don't know how you will create something out of nothing, but I do trust you."
And that was it. God assured me that I hadn't missed anything, and to just wait.
And then, all of the sudden, out of NOWHERE, God told me everything I had been waiting for. And, He said it to me in the same way He always has in these big moments...by telling me the craziest plan possible, and then giving me COMPLETE peace about it!
I know that many of you will think this is crazy, and I don't care! I don't mean that in a nanny nanny boo boo way...I just know that God asks me to do things that He may not ask you to do, and vice versa.
There have been five times in my life that I have heard God so clearly that I have no doubt that it was His voice.
1. He told me to go to Sioux Falls College in South Dakota. I lived in Texas. That's just weird, God, but ok. It was the best decision I could have made.
2. He told me to move to El Paso, Texas, and lead teams to build houses in Mexico. Um God, I don't know how to build a house, and I don't speak Spanish. That wasn't important, God equipped me with everything I needed, and I spent 10 years there. I am a different person because of my time on the border.
3. He told me to quit Casas por Cristo and move to Boone, North Carolina to work with OCC. But God, I don't want to leave Casas, and I sure don't want to live in a podunk town in North Carolina. Geez was I wrong about that! I LOVE Boone, and kind of don't ever want to live anywhere else! I also had one of the coolest jobs in the world, and I got to love on kids and serve Jesus!
4. He told me that I could take a year off. I wanted that, but it was scary. I had to give up a lot to make it happen. I didn't always love it, but I am so grateful for this time.
And, this brings me to the 5th. I'm about to throw a whole bunch of information at you, just like God did with me!
5. God told me to open a pottery business in the basement of my house. Um, I don't have a house (yet). And for the first time, I am THRILLED by what God has CALLED (yes, I do believe that this is a calling) me to do.
So, I will be attending two intensive pottery courses in Europe this fall. The first will be in Spain, and the second will be in Italy! This is kind of how it all started. I already had a trip planned to London and Edinburgh with my friend PJ. And I thought, wouldn't it be fun to stay later and do a pottery course somewhere?!
God took that one little thought, and within hours, told me the rest of the story.
I have put an offer on a house in BOONE, (this has been my prayer for sometime now, that I could stay in Boone!) and I will turn the basement into my pottery studio!
I will be teaching lessons to kids and beginners. I will sell my wares on Etsy and other avenues, and I will hawk my pots anywhere I can! And to help get things off the ground, I will continue to do odd jobs: babysitting, cleaning, organizing, painting, dog sitting, etc. I'll do whatever it takes to be successful. I said at the beginning of this journey that I am a scrapper, and I think that's even more true today than it was then!
I have total peace. The peace that passes all understanding kind of peace. I would have never taken up pottery if I was working full time. I wouldn't have spent 20 hours a week in the pottery studio, trying to get better, if I still had a job. I have a passion for this like I've never felt before. It feels like worship to me. There is something about creating something with your hands. And now, only now, do I understand all of the Bible verses about the Potter and the clay.
“But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)
Now I understand how much more beautiful and strong a piece of clay is after it has been put through the fire. Without that fire, it's not good for anything. It's just a vessel that will crumble at the slightest disturbance. It's basically useless until it's been fired.
I think this is a perfect example of what this past year has looked like for me. I feel like I have now been fired, and have come out stronger and more beautiful.
The Logistics:
*I will be out of the country from September 26th-November 3rd.
*I will close on my house (if all goes according to plan...you never know with real estate!) on August 31st, if not sooner. And what's even cooler, the due diligence period ends on August 14th, which is one day shy of the official end of my sabbatical! You might remember that I sold all of my belongings. Well friends, this house comes completely furnished! WHAT?! Come on, God. You keep outdoing yourself here! I don't love the furniture, but it will work just fine until I can gradually start replacing it. IT'S FULLY FURNISHED, PEOPLE!!!!! And, it's adorable, and it feels like home.
*My new business is called "Tiny Hands Pottery". I have teeny tiny baby hands, and this seemed perfect!
*Etsy store and website coming soon. www.tinyhandspottery.com
*I have applied for my LLC and EIN with the IRS.
*I will be at this school in Spain from October 10th-16th. Seth is a world class potter, and I'm thrilled to get to study with him! http://www.wenfordbridge.com/
*I will be studying in Tuscany (near Florence) from October 18th-31st. My pottery teacher assures me that it is a total dream that I get to attend this school! http://www.lameridiana.fi.it/index.htm
*And last, but not least, my friends sold me their pottery wheel and kiln for $200. This is crazy. I'll need a bigger kiln in the future, but for now, it'll get the job done!
*And last, but not least, my friends sold me their pottery wheel and kiln for $200. This is crazy. I'll need a bigger kiln in the future, but for now, it'll get the job done!
Oh how I love that at 41 years old, God gave me a passion for something that I had never even thought about before. I still have SO much to learn. But I know this is what I am supposed to be doing, and I will put in the work, and trusting that God will provide me with His grace.
I hope that you will rejoice with me. I hope that you will help me spread the word about my new little business. And more than anything, I hope that you know that God IS faithful, and His ways are always better than our ways!
God has blown my socks off. I didn't expect anything less.
I've been quoting my good friend, Dwight K. Schrute for the past year, and it seems even truer today..."There's nothing on my horizon, except everything. Everything is on my horizon." Amen.
