Remember those “word association” games?
When someone says a word and you say the first thing that comes into your mind.
For example, if I say “peanut butter.”
You’d probably say, “jelly.” (Unless you’re British or South African, in which case you’d probably say jam. Or, unless you’re my husband, and then you’d probably say “bacon,” which is really a whole other, much more disgusting post).
Mmm’kay, so you remember the rules?
‘Cause I’ve got a doozie for you.
Are you ready? Here we go. Without thinking first or hesitating or self-censoring, tell me what’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say:
“Followers”
or
“Traffic”
or
“Published”
or
“Conference”
Kudos to you if these didn’t trigger any of the following words:
“Twitter”
or
“Blog stats”
or
“From Blog to Book”
or
“Relevant”
The reason I’m curious is that I’ve been thinking a lot about these words the last couple of weeks. And I’ve discovered that sometimes I pull them out, tape measure like, to see how I’m doing.
I stand back-to-back with these words and they tower over me. I peer up at them and doubt I will ever be able to climb high enough to enjoy their view. Furthermore, I imagine space is limited at the top, the ledge precarious, and the lookout reserved only for those who speak html.
Fortunately, at this point in my metaphor I crack myself up as I start to imagine a Tolkien like universe where all mommy bloggers break into Elvish-sounding-html while practicing the ancient art of coding a website. That’s when I realize I really need to get out more. But since the kitchen needs to be cleaned and there’s a two-year-old who wants to party like its 1984, I turn up the radio and blast one of my all time favorite songs: Audio Adrenaline’s Big House.
We dance around the house – he in Elmo pajamas and me in my “comfy clothes” and fuzzy green clover socks – belting out the words and embracing a new perspective on fitting in:
Come and go with me
To my Father’s house
Come and go with me
To my Father’s house.
It’s a big, big house
With lots and lots of room
A big, big table
With lots and lots of food
A big, big yard
Where we can play football
A big, big house
It’s my Father’s house.
And just like that, I’m cured. Because I remember a simple truth – His Kingdom is big and full of more meaningful work than I can imagine.
Where one succeeds opportunities are not eaten up, instead they are multiplied.
There is enough work for everyone interested in being part of it.
One writer’s success is simply another’s confirmation to join the party.
We are all necessary. More than that, we are all invited.
Now, how’s that for word association!
A repost from the archives. Because I needed to hear it again. And maybe someone else does too.
Oh my… you have no idea how much I needed to read your words tonight…
Thank you :)
I definitely needed to hear that. I check blog stats way too much. What’s worse is how much I get my worth from blog stats, from people liking my writing. I need to find my worth in God, not myself or my own success — and that’s exactly what blog stats are, my success.
Thank you for this reminder. I couldn’t help but sing along.
good point.
we happen to really enjoy a peanut butter, bacon and jelly sandwich around here. :) a pbbj if you will Kelly
Oh me, Lisa-Jo. I am in one of those “what’s the use?” moods. Thank you so much.
Have a great time at the conference – lots of pictures and posts please!
indeed!
and that follower thing? the only thing i need to be about is following Christ better. the rest is just icing.
meet you at relevant:)
Ok. Seriously? Cause just today I was thinking about packing it all up and shitting down the blog, the Twitter, the social media. Because it makes me feel small. It makes me feel forgotten. It causes me to compare myself too much with others. I am obsessed with others acceptance. This was SO needed. Thank you for your encouragement. :) Have fun at Relevant…I wish I was going.
And thank you auto-correct for causing me to cuss on Lisa-Jo’s blog. **hangs head in shame…then busts out laughing**
You made me snort out my nose. I owe you big time. In all the best ways. To me, you are, delicious!! :)
Thanks. :) Haha! God knew I needed a laugh.
LOL!! :) I think that’s the word I used on Words w/ Friends once!!! :)
Oh my GOSH Melissa!
(I don’t think you are small. I think you are wonderful).
I needed to hear this. I hate the popularity contest of it all. Is hate a strong word (not as strong as Melissa’s)(kidding)? No, it’s not too strong.
Lately I’ve been doing my best to step away from the stats and the followers and the unfollowers and just focus on writing to bring God glory.
It’s harder than it sounds.
Thank you for saying that. I hate how it impacts my day and my opinion of myself. For some reason my site views have dropped by a 1/3 to 1/2 in the last week. I feel totally rejected…and lame for caring so much. And…apparently that makes me cuss. Haha! Talk about word association. Haha!
“There is enough work for everyone interested in being part of it.” yebo and amen! i totally needed to hear that tonight. i’ve been feeling quiet yet still wanting to keep on writing and this is a timely reminder.
I think that you are wonderful…poignant…effective…impactive…and “relevant.” So there!
Thanks for the post! It was a tremendous reminder!
And I, too, wish I were going to Relevant! For another time and another season, hopefully.
So glad there is room in his house for us all!! Rejoicing with you today!! Thanks for the encouragement Mrs. Lisa Jo!
You are so right – there is plenty of room at His house; we are all parts of the body. Unfortunately, today I feel like a big toe with a hangnail, but whatever. *grin*
I often feel like an elbow. Don’t ask me why. It’s just the image that most frequently comes to mind :)
Well I guess I’m old school, ’cause none of those words came to my mind! :)
Oh and Melissa? Thanks for that early morning laugh!!!!!
JoAnn used the phrase popularity contest and that is such an apt description.
I remind myself that this is a calling, that is first between me and God, and then with other people. I have reasons that I blog and I have keep those reasons fresh in my mind so I don’t get distracted with what ‘everyone else’ is doing.
I just tell myself to keep writing. I’ve been called to it, even though it doesn’t make sense, even though I’ve tried to run from it for years. So, I put one word down in front of the other. Someday, they may lead somewhere. They may not. That’s not my call. Ultimately, it’s His.
Yea and Amen!
Your last line sums it up;
“We are all necessary. More than that, we are all invited.”
Amen and amen. I so needed to hear this today.
I love the reminder that we are all necessary… and invited!! Sometimes I am not sure I have found my niche (I went a whole month without blogging… and it’s probably gonna be like that again) I want to spend more time working on Face to Face relationships, although I still want to form some bloggy friendships, too!!
PS… I hate that Relevant is practically in my backyard and I don’t know enough about blogging to attend. Good news is our church’s ladies retreat is this weekend, so I can work on the face to face stuff!
Oh man, our church’s ladies retreat got scheduled after I’d already committed to Relevant and it’s on THE EXACT SAME WEEKEND. Soooooo sad to miss it – because it’s the real time personal friendships that are golden. So, really, we both win this weekend as long as we’re spending time with women who love us and challenge us and shape us!
Haha! That was such a wonderful post! my thoughts were *twitter *cones *that would be great *Relevant
I am joining you in burning my measuring sticks today! I compare far too often, to the point of self-inflicted damage.
But I have to say, it would be pretty cool if all mommy bloggers broke out in elvish-html speak! :)
It SO would!! :)
followers – Christians
traffic – road rage
published – brilliance
conferences – please don’t make me go
and i love that i’m invited!
Heh! :) Always invited, whether they are your cup of tea or not!
You are so right. It’s far too easy a trap to fall into – the whole “What about me?” kind of mentality. I think Satan loves to make us jealous and focus on ourselves.
Having ambition is something hard to squelch. I’m constantly asking God to help me see things through His eyes and to reach only as far as He will let me. He’s in charge of what I do. If I take over, I don’t want Him to let me do it anymore.
Preach it, sister! :) I love it!
This is the kind of post that makes you (one of) my heroes. That you (pretty close to the top of the blogging food chain, IMHO) would have the heart to share the same doubts and fears and second-guessing wondering if there’s enough space for everybody in this in this bigoleblogcommunity…I’ll just go ahead and beat my kindred spirit horse again!
Blessings – as always!
LIB
Oh man, you make me GRIN! Girl, let’s ride our horses off into the skittles-bedecked jewel-hued sunset together FO SHO! :)
I must not be part of the “in-crowd” (I jest! I jest!) Because I too thought of the following:
followers – groupies
traffic – visual picture of the congestion on the interstate I see every.day.on my commute
published – clearinghouse winner (it might take a second to get that one)
conferences – meetings
Obivously I need a break from work, a vacation or at least a NAP~!
Love the post, hope you enjoy Relevant!
I played the game:
followers – leaders
traffic – ohhhhhhh I get it
published – (you had me with traffic)
conference – (again – had me at traffic)
To always remain the messenger and not the message.
To seek to grow, to share with more, not to number crunch.
I don’t have my blog yet – edging closer – and I’m already understanding “blogese” (obviously a relative tongue to elvish)
I am putting this one in my “Remember this. This is important” file.
And Melissa – for shame for shame – such language! And I’ve been lurking around your blog all week – sorry I’ll comment more – but I have been one of your numbers every day – even when you put your husband ahead of my blog ready needs :)
And Ashley Ann – funny!
And Lisa Jo – funny! forced me to delurk – thank you
Ha! LOVE it when we lure lurkers out of hiding!! Welcome welcome to the crazy side – so happy to have you here :)
Oh, I loved that song at Bible camp as a kid. Such a classic :)
Love the post too. It is something every blogger needs to hear!
As I sit in the airport waiting to board the plane to Hasrisburg, I needed this reminder! James 3:13-18 is something the Lord is steeping in me. I’m going to PA with my Father, and can’t wait to meet you, my sister!
Alleluia!!! I love this! Right there along with ya…as I was getting all sucked into that blog-mommy-comparison stuff a couple of days ago!!
http://freeagentmommy.typepad.com/blog/2010/10/adventure-envy.html