I had a lovely brunch with little
Paige at Highland Bakery in Atl.
Definitely recommend it. Their French
toast is killer. Good call Paige. Good to see her, and cool how we have become
better friends this past year or so.
Probs due to the fact that we are both in similar stages of life. Both transitioning, trying to figure out what
we wanna do with our lives, but more so where we are headed. She leaves for Guatemala later this fall to
work with IJM. Pray for her, cuz she is
worried (with reason) for her safety as she heads down south. Kinda surprising honestly it is to me that
she is worried, but as we chatted more, I understood why. Anyways, she was filling me in on her past
week and a half. Mainly this conference
in Chicago. I think it was called “Story
Conference” or something like that. So,
I lightheartedly asked her on Friday if it changed her life, and she
sarcastically said yes. Naturally, I
asked her to explain as we sat down to our coffee, awaiting my fantastic French
toast and her eggs and grits at Highland Bakery. She said she heard some things that she had
never heard before, or that were explained in such a new way that she had never
heard before, even though she grew up in church, in a Bible-believing church,
actually. The basic premise of the
conference and the speakers is that as the creation of God, we are called to be
creators. And, when we create, and make
things that are beautiful, that is when God is most honored in our lives, and
when folks see the gospel. Regardless of
if others see it or know about it, it makes tons of money, or even it is
something we aren’t good at. God has
made us to create, and each of us in very different ways. Little Paige mentioned how making beautiful
things for me and her looks very different, due to how God has created us. For me, that probably involves sweat, for her
it probably involves music. That God isn’t
most honored in us when we produce, or meet quotas, or even convert so many
numbers of lost people. He is most
glorified and honored in our lives when we use the God-given talents to
create. Only then can we be fully alive,
once again as he has created us to be.
Interesting premise, eh?
It
got me thinking though for sure.
Specifically, what can I do to create beautiful things? Does it involve sweat and sport, or time and
relationships, or lyrics and music, or smiles and encouragement, or nature and
experiences? I just don’t know. But, I am sure that I would like to discover
it. Or, the more than one “it’s”. We started talking music. How she so enjoys this one artist who isn’t
supremely well-known, is awkward on stage, even awkward in person, and barely
makes ends meet for his family. But,
when he makes music, it is B-E-A-utiful.
According to Paige, of course.
But, he is making music for the sake of making music and creating
something that is beautiful. Not for the
sake of selling records, or getting famous.
But, for the sake of using what God has given him to create something
that others can find beautiful and in turn find Jesus. Paige said some of his songs have meant much
to her personal walk with the Lord. And,
they leave her with questions, pushing her to run to Jesus with them. And, I mentioned to her the quote I once heard
Bethany Dillon reference: “Good music
makes you homesick for a place you have never been.” - Anonymous.
I think I might have actually written about that quote before (all things new and recap sgraceking style). But, it still rings true. Seriously.
So, go little Paige go. Make and create
some sweet jams, only if you and God know about them…
And,
with that, I start off this new journey, saying I want to create beautiful
things. I don’t quite know what that
looks like, but that is where I want to go.
Whether that is on a soccer field, or in a school, or in a coffee house,
or on a dance floor (that one was just for kicks, people). Let’s do this. Be the Sara Samchok God created me to
be. Happy October 1st.
