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Tag: #authenticjoy

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The Fire Series: God Thinks Outside The Box

Recently I have been getting the urge to write on topics that deal more directly with issues of the Christian faith. This week I felt it so strongly. Like the prophet Jeremiah said:

If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.

So today is the start of “The Fire Series!” which will be interspersed in between my usual posts.

This week one of the things that got me fired up was a message from Kris Vallotton of Bethel Church. I was listening to the podcast on the way from work and he illustrated something from scripture, from an angle that I had never thought of before. It struck a deep chord with what I knew to be true in my heart. So much so, that I felt like shouting “Hallelujah!” and acting like a crazy man in my truck. The scripture is the well-known account in Acts 2 when the disciples are waiting in the upper room for the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised. And He comes! Like the sound of a mighty rushing wind that fills the whole house, He comes! In divided flames of fire, resting on each disciple, He comes! And then they start to speak in tongues (languages) that are not their own. The people in the city hear them and are confused because they know that these guys don’t speak those languages. Unable to comprehend what could possibly be going on, they come up with the most likely explanation in their minds; these guys must be drunk.

But Peter addresses the crowd and says this (Acts 2:14-18):

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

Familiar verse right? But imagine if we were there in that verse and we were Jews. What would we think? Well, we would probably call them crazy and we definitely would say that this speaking in tongues business is not of God (as some still say today). Because we would look at our bible (only the OT at that time) and say, “Speaking in tongues is not in the bible, therefore it is not of God!” (In our deepest, most authoritative tone of course.) And this crazy pastor/pope, Peter is leading people astray! I mean, plainly, Joel lists three things as evidence of the outpouring of the Spirit:

  1. Prophecy
  2. Visions
  3. Dreams

What’s not on that list? Speaking in tongues!!! The brightest Christian scholars would examine the Hebrew and the grammar and it would be dissected on pulpits around the world and this crazy, unscriptural, ungodly movement would be soundly rebuked as unbiblical – not of God!

So how did Peter connect this passage in Joel with what was happening in the upper room? What is it the he understood that we don’t? Peter understood God. He had walked with Jesus long enough to know that God is not what we expect. You see, Peter did not speak by intellectual acumen or human reasoning. Peter made a declaration of a truth that was downloaded into his spirit from The Spirit. He had a knowing deep in his gut that THIS IS THAT! And! He was willing to believe God rather than his own intellectual thinking. He understood the profoundly simple truth that God does not conform to the limits of our minds.

Today, the average Christian has been taught to put God in a box. If it’s not in the bible, it’s not God. The problem that is so well illustrated by the scripture above is that we do not have the mental wattage to interpret the mind of God in scripture. God never intended for us to go around looking for a verse that aligns to every situation. What He wants for us is so much more relational, so much more dynamic and so much more powerful!

I’m taking God out my mind-box. I want to see all that He is and all that He wants to do on this earth. I want Him to blow my mind and shatter my limitations! The God I serve is BIG. Bigger than I could ever conceive and I want to experience as much of Him as I possibly can.

In Matthew 12:22-32 Jesus delivers a demon-possessed man. (Again, something that had never been done before. At least not in the bible.) The religious leaders of the time again come to the wrong conclusion; it must be by a demon that Jesus is casting out demons. And it is in this context Jesus makes a deeply sobering statement, “…whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” I don’t know about you but that gets my attention. Really gets my attention!

When I hear about something new that seems strange I don’t want my first question to be, “Is it in the bible? And if not then it’s not God.” I want my first question to be, “Woah! God is that Your Holy Spirit at work? I trust you completely to lead me into all truth. So, if it is You, I want to know more! I want to experience it myself! Bring it on Holy Spirit!”

I thank You Lord that You are not a God that I can wrap my mind around. Then You wouldn’t be God, I would be god. But I’m not, and You are! You alone are God! Hallelujah!

Joyfully,

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls. All rights reserved.

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Reset

I knew I needed a reset. All the signs were there. I was grumpy. I was lethargic. Work was frustrating. I wasn’t feeling good about myself. I didn’t feel like praying. And you know that person whose only purpose in life, it seems, is to pull you down? That special deluxe order hater? Well my super-hater was getting more and more under my skin than normal. I desperately needed a reset.

Yesterday, I had planned to go to the beach after work but got ambushed as I dropped in the house to change my clothes. “Where you going daddy?” “To the beach.” “Without us?” (puppy dog eyes) “Uh…no… sigh. I have to do groceries, you all wanna come?” “Yay!” And just like that my reset plan turned into a grocery outing, which was not too bad. I enjoy spontaneous moments with my little ones, but it was not what I really needed.

This morning I woke up feeling worse. I was desperate now. I had to do something! Then as though manna fell from heaven. Angels sang as an outrageous plan floated into my mind.  What is stopping me from doing a bike ride to the waterfall? Exercise, nature, water, fresh air, natural beauty, all the ingredients of a blissful morning.

An hour or so later I was rounding the last bend and there it was…exhale. The stepping stone path was lined on either side with thick, verdant foliage bearing small white flowers. The flowers were littered on the path as well and just coming into sight was the Maracas waterfall. It isn’t fed by a much of a stream but what it lacks in volume it makes up for in height. The water cascades down the cliff face, connecting with various outcroppings before stinging the huge rocks at the bottom. As you near the bottom, fine mist covers you and then as you get closer it gets progressively heavier until the main downpour thrums on your head and shoulders.

At first, I just sat on a rock and drank it all in. Everything spoke to me of the goodness of God. His fingerprint was on everything. The rocks, the trees, the clouds scooting across the sky. I saw His beauty all around me. I felt His love in the mist on my face. His mercy and grace flowed over me in wave after wave, unceasingly, like the water flowing over that waterfall that somehow never ran out. I sang praises with the birds and washed away the cares of the world as I stood under the cascade.

My soul needs periodic refreshing in the bowels of nature as much as my body needs food. It’s not just a luxury. It’s a necessity. I couldn’t live an urban life. I often wonder how those sterile, concrete housing schemes are affecting the souls of its inhabitants. I know I couldn’t survive there.

But I need to do more. Currently, I’m just surviving. Living for nature top-ups. It’s not just nature but general soul care. I need to formulate a plan. Less technology. Less noise. More stillness. More solitude. More play. More bare footedness. Less busy-ness. More walks and runs and rides. More sun, sand, sea, forest and river.

I realize that it won’t happen unless I make it happen. So, I’m making a commitment. Making some changes. Little habits I will inculcate every week, every month, every year to ensure that I’m not just surviving but thriving. What about you? Is your life feeling cluttered and rushed? Or maybe just a little less alive than you know it could be? Maybe you need a reset?

Joyfully,

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls. All rights reserved.

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What’s Up With All This Wakanda Fever?

When people started crossing their fists to their shoulders and saying, “Wakanda forever!” I was amused. Then they started dressing up in traditional African wear and painting their faces to watch the movie and I was bewildered. I didn’t get it. What about this movie, that was pure fiction, was eliciting such strong emotions? Trinbagonians generally do not identify strongly with their African roots. I certainly don’t. I’m a proud and patriotic Trinbagonian. Full stop. But here were my countrymen displaying an uncharacteristic African pride. Intriguing.

So I had to see this movie for myself and I did. And I still did not get it. But I think I know why – I have AIDD – African Identity Deficit Disorder. I identified with M’baku because Winston Duke is from Trinidad & Tobago. I thought he gave a fantastic performance! Go T&T! I was also inspired by the fact that many of the cast and crew were men and women of faith. Like Letitia Wright who is very vocal about her faith (and also born in Guyana). Go Caribbean! But I got no warm fuzzy feelings of black pride. So I’m checking myself into therapy.

However, what struck me most about the film was the leadership types that were so well scripted. There was M’Baku. He was the typical good leader who is only interested in his people. He will do everything to protect and benefit his tribe or country or town or social group. He must preserve the old ways at whatever cost and keep the people out there from polluting the good thing we have going in here. The portrayal of this stereotype is powerfully relevant to the world we live in today. There is strong evidence of the rising popularity of this type of thinking.

Then there was Erik Killmonger. The champion of the downtrodden and disadvantaged who wants to fight fire with fire. He is not interested in peace or harmony but with vengeance and empowering his tribe to take a place of dominance. Again a very popular sentiment today. How many times have we seen on the news and in our social media feeds people fighting hate with hate and violence with violence? This is something I feel very passionate about. I know in my gut that hate can never stop hate, only love can do that. Violence can never stop violence, only peace can do that.  Only those who can forgive their oppressors and join hands with their detractors can bring peace in this world. Don’t be a Killmonger.

Finally, the hero, T’Challa – The Black Panther. T’Challa’s leadership epitomizes the leader who does not only care about his people but cares about all people. This in my mind, is the mark of a great leader. His heart shone through in various scenes: when he begged M’Baku to yield rather than be killed because his people needed him, when he chastised his father for leaving Erik behind and chose to live rather than rest easy with his ancestors, when he offered to save Killmonger’s life at the end. At every opportunity to use his strength and power to dominate or seek his own interest, he chose instead to show mercy and to empower and lift up others. The stirring ending of course, being the opening up of Wakanda’s technology and way of life to the disadvantaged community where Erik grew up.

It is my hope that when people celebrate this movie that it is not only because it contained many actors of African heritage but because we yearn for leaders who lead from a heart of love and service for all men of every colour.

Wakanda forever!

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls. All Rights Reserved.

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Parenting Is Hard

Parenting is hard enough but single co-parenting (a term I just invented to mean when you are not in a relationship with the other parent) is ten times as hard. As I came down from the euphoria of vacation and the cold water of reality splashed my face, this was one of the harsh realities of my life that met me at the door.

“Daddy, you don’t spend any time with us,” was the latest issue. It was not something that I hadn’t heard before, but the complaint seemed to be getting louder. It’s an issue that I find particularly frustrating because their point of view and mine are so far apart. They take for granted the fact that I changed by working hours and hardly ever work late just so that I can drop them to school in the morning and see them in the evening. They don’t know how much of a social life I forego just to be present in their lives. They have no clue and they probably never will until they have children of their own.

What exacerbates the issue is that their reference point is their mother who is a stay at home mom. She has the advantage of being at their beck and call 24-7 if she chooses. In a ‘normal’ family where the mother is at home, I guess she would help the children to understand that daddy has to work etc. I unfortunately, have to deal with the opposite dynamic.

Thus, when I sat down to have a heart to heart with my kids I tried to discern not only what they were saying but how they really felt. It was clear that they did not feel unloved or neglected but they did want more meaningful time with me doing things that they like. I realized that with my daughter’s preparation for the big SEA exams and their extra-curricular schedule, most of our time was spent being busy. Busy getting ready for school, busy getting ready for bed, busy getting ready for lessons, busy getting to football training, busy, busy, busy…

So, despite how skewed their viewpoint might be, there was inside there some truth that I could not ignore. I weighed my options.  What more I could do to be a better dad? I weighed the wants versus the needs. Children always want. A significant challenge is always to give them what they need not necessarily what they want. What could I do that would answer the need in their lives? What was I willing to give up? That question brought me right up against another significant challenge; finding the balance between sacrificing for your children without sacrificing your health.

In the end, I gave up one football sweat a month and my Saturday morning run would be reduced to every other week. In exchange I would have some more unhurried time with my children. I’m not expecting huge outpourings of gratitude and that doesn’t matter to me. My fulfilment is in their success as Godly, loving, happy, contributing human beings. In their eyes, compared to their mother, I might still be the second-rate parent, but I believe their hearts know better. I can feel it in their hugs.

Parenting is hard but anything worthwhile is hard.

Joyfully,

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls. All rights reserved.

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Find Your Peeps

The second week of my vacation/retreat started when I picked up my girlfriend, Tricia, in the airport and we drove from Sacramento to Redding. There is just something about road trips! We talked, sang, prayed and laughed all the way. We passed the town of Yolo and of course we had to shout “YOLO!” every time we saw a sign. Then we passed huge stacks of hay and of course we had to go, “Haaaay!” (obviously). This is what happens when you put two corny people in one vehicle for an extended period.

We also kept passing these fields of beautiful flowering trees and eventually curiosity got the better of us and we had to stop to find out what they were and take a picture. Turns out they were cherry trees and they were also highly secured with electric fences and surveillance cameras. (Don’t ask how we got the photo above).

The main purpose of our trip was to attend a conference at Bethel Church in Redding. However, we had a couple free days, so we decided to drive to the Trinity Shasta National Forest and Lake. More road trips! And beautiful scenery. It was a unique experience to see the landscape change to snow as we ascended the mountains.

Then there was the conference. It was epic! It was one of those times when you feel the weight of purpose over your life. We knew this was not a chance event; we were supposed to be there! Again, I was overcome with gratitude as I realized what a privilege it was to have a bff who is as excited as I am about Jesus. I don’t mean just to find someone who is a Christian. I mean a person who will get excited about spending her vacation at a church conference. A person who is intentional about investing in her spiritual growth. Not all Christians are like that, but Tricia certainly is and I’m thankful that she is in my life.

But before this turns into a really soppy post (puke), that’s not all that I was grateful for… There were hundreds of people from over forty-five countries at the conference who were just like us! It reminded me how important it is to find your peeps. Whatever your thing is, it’s important to find the people who are as crazy about it as you are. Whether it is Star Trek, running or rock collecting, find your peeps. Nothing will motivate you to go further and to hone your craft like gathering and sharing what you are passionate about with other like-minded individuals.

Well that brings my California trip to an end, but I expect this time of renewal and retooling will be bearing fruit for many months to come. I enjoyed sharing it with you and I hope it inspires you in some way to invest in yourself.

Joyfully,

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls.

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We Are All Connected

As my week in Lake Tahoe comes to an end, I am thinking back on all that I experienced, and I’m filled with gratitude. I don’t take it for granted. Any of it. Some of the highlights were:

  • The snowboarding of course! Having only done it once before, I was thrilled that I was able to be up and riding and enjoying the adrenaline rush of careening down the various intermediate runs without any serious difficulties.
  • The scenery! Coming from the Caribbean, the Lake Tahoe scenery probably washed over me with a freshness that comes with unfamiliarity. Every lift ride back up the mountain was filled with awe and a sacred gratitude. I was fascinated by the difference in weather from the first day I arrived to the last day I left. When I arrived it was snowing and visibility was low. The next day the sun came out to caress a landscape of trees adorned with white frosting. And two days later the trees were all green with a carpet of white underneath as the snow had melted off. The fabulous view of Lake Tahoe from the top of the Tamrack Express lift was one of my favourite views.
  • I was able to complete the first draft of Authentic Joy the novel! I can safely say that my first book will be published this year. So, look out for it folks!

The thing I want to focus on today though is the interactions with the people I met on my trip. Everyday I would take a cable car ride (or The Gondola as they call it) up to the top of the mountain in the morning and back down in the evening. I learned so much during those short rides.

My first thought was, “The world has really become so much smaller.” Every single person I met knew where Trinidad & Tobago was and most had a friend, or roommate or in-law who was a Trinbagonian. Twenty years ago, when I first travelled to the US, that was not the case at all.

Everyone was friendly and welcoming. I met an older lady who used to come skiing with all her girlfriends and they had all stopped for one reason or another, so it was only her and her granddaughter now. I spoke with a lady who had a baby, so she and her husband took turns skiing while the other stayed with the baby. A retired couple told me how the wife had started skiing at 50 because her husband loved it so much and now they were both avid skiers. There was an ex-navy guy who skied in the winter and mountain-biked in the summer and had a brother who surfed like me. He also knew a guy who mountain biked with George Bush Jr. while he was president of the US and said that he was unbelievably fit.

I think the best gondola ride though, was the last one of my trip. It was a full ride. There were seven of us. Three girls and two guys formed a group, while another lady and I were travelling alone. By the time we exited the gondola we had learned that one of the girls was pregnant, her partner was colour blind, the other couple was getting married, the wedding had been moved up by two years, the guys were brothers, they had a lovely aunt who was a bit overweight and many other sundry details. The gondola ride was dubbed “Gondola Ride Confessions” and we exited laughing as we went our separate ways.

I love those experiences! People always wonder how I can travel alone but I never feel lonely. I enjoy the time with myself, meeting new people and communing with nature. At the end of my week in Lake Tahoe I have such a renewed sense of our universal oneness; that we are all connected, with each other and with nature itself.

My girlfriend tells me that the giant redwoods of California always grow in groves because their roots all connect and intertwine underground forming a giant support network. We are all connected. Let’s live that truth daily.

Joyfully,

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls

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Always Play To Your Strengths!

Greetings from beautiful Lake Tahoe. The snow-covered trees look like a fairy tale. Well, my first day skiing was a disaster. I SUCK at skiing. I spent the whole day falling on the beginner run. By the end of the day I knew that if I wanted to enjoy the rest of my days on the slopes I had to switch back to what I was reasonably good at – snowboarding. I went to the rental store and traded in my skiis for a board.

Day 2 was epic! After a couple runs on the beginner slope to refresh my memory, I was off to the intermediate runs. It was a good reminder that you don’t have to be good at everything. You will be more successful and have more fun in life if you play to your strengths.

Sometimes this is counter-cultural. We are trained to focus on our weaknesses. The focus of every appraisal and all professional development seems to be on what we need to improve. But that is not the only way and maybe not even the best way to approach your job or even your life. There is another school of though that says that your strengths (or gifts) are the most valuable assets that you bring to your work and your life and it is usually what gives you the greatest fulfilment. So in every situation look to see how you can best utilize your strengths and where you see a hole that you can’t fill, team up with someone with a strength in that area.

There is an online assessment tool that helps you to find your top strengths; www.gallupstrengthscenter.com. The results are not always what you expect. For instance, my top strength is Connectedness…. I never thought of connectedness as a strength. Then I read the description:

Things happen for a reason. You are sure of it. You are sure of it because in your soul you know that we are all connected. Yes, we are individuals, responsible for our own judgments and in possession of our own free will, but nonetheless we are part of something larger. Some may call it the collective unconscious. Others may label it spirit or life force. But whatever your word of choice, you gain confidence from knowing that we are not isolated from one another or from the earth and the life on it. This feeling of Connectedness implies certain responsibilities. If we are all part of a larger picture, then we must not harm others because we will be harming ourselves. We must not exploit because we will be exploiting ourselves. Your awareness of these responsibilities creates your value system. You are considerate, caring, and accepting. Certain of the unity of humankind, you are a bridge builder for people of different cultures. Sensitive to the invisible hand, you can give others comfort that there is a purpose beyond our humdrum lives. The exact articles of your faith will depend on your upbringing and your culture, but your faith is strong. It sustains you and your close friends in the face of life’s mysteries.

Life becomes a lot more joyful when we know our strengths and play to them! See you soon, I’m heading back up the mountain!

Joyfully,

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls

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Transformation versus Conformation

It’s carnival Monday and I am in the cold mountains around Lake Tahoe, California, USA. For those who don’t know, carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is a festival where we dress up and dance in the streets for two full days. It is full of vibrancy, music, revelry and wild abandon. I love it! So why am I, a full-blooded Trinbagonian, in Lake Tahoe?

Well to answer that question I first wish to say why I’m not in Lake Tahoe. I’m not here because a pastor said I should not be involved in carnival. I’m not here because the bible speaks against revelry, debauchery, drunkenness and licentiousness (big words that essentially mean abandoning one’s self-restraint in the enjoyment of sensual pleasure). I’m not here because some Christians might judge me and say that I am Christian yet I’m taking part in carnival.

You see, I came to a realization many years ago that I am not interested in conformation and God is not in that business either. I realized that I cannot live a life where I act in a manner that is at odds with my desires and what gives me pleasure. That path never resulted in more joy or a better internal quality of life. It was a tortured existence. All authentic change must be driven by a deep internal desire on the inside (transformation) not pressure to conform from the outside. It must be that we are aiming for something more pleasurable, something better, something of greater value to the quality of our life if we are to really change.

This is exactly what the bible teaches by the way. It is said in many different ways; “Repent for the kingdom of God is here”, “Lose your life to gain eternal life”, “Sell all you have and buy the pearl”, “Do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. The theme is immutable, there is not virtue in asceticism and self-denial UNLESS there is a greater prize that you are aiming for.

If I am going to change and leave behind something good, it must be for something better. Hence, why I am here at Lake Tahoe. I am on a mission, a retreat and an adventure. I am taking a step back from the noise to regenerate, introspect and draw closer to God. I am going to try skiing for the first time! I am going to dedicate some focused time to my writing. I am going to a Bethel Music conference to soak in the richness of the love of God and fan the flames of my love for Christ.

Each of these things bring me joy. I am excited! It is a transformation of joy to be here! To those back on my beautiful twin-island taking part in the festivities I say, enjoy! I still believe that carnival is beautiful. I chose one of my favourite carnival photos for this post. I took it at Panorama in 2010. The vibrance, creativity and primal beauty that shines at carnival is from the divine. Many of my friends, whom I admire, take part every year without being sexually promiscuous or drinking themselves into a stupor.

I hope to send some photos and updates from my adventures over these next weeks. Do what you love my friends, live your truth without shame! That’s what I am doing in Lake Tahoe!

Joyfully,

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls.

 

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What Is Life?

I live in an area that’s surrounded by forest and yesterday after I went for a short jog I took a detour into the bush. Venturing into nature is one of my favourite pastimes. For me it is deeply restorative. Yesterday, I felt more alive as the sights, sounds and smells of the forest invaded my senses.

I have always found that nature is so full of life. I was hearing several birds calling, crickets chirping and the river bubbling over the rocks. I felt, heard and saw the breeze blowing through the trees and rustling the leaves and causing branches to sway. As I stood beneath the trees pondering that thought, a question rose like bubbles to the surface of my mind, “What is Life?”.

Science says that what distinguishes living creatures from inorganic matter is:

  • Metabolism
  • Growth
  • Adapting to the environment
  • Responding to stimuli
  • Reproduction

While this is meant in a very physical sense, I began to look at it much more holistically. What does it mean for a human being to truly live.

Metabolism

We take in food and oxygen and produce waste and carbon dioxide. Other organisms depend on our waste for food and we depend on others for our food. It’s a wonderful symbiosis. But we are not only physical beings. How do we nourish our minds, our hearts, our spirit? And what do we give off to others? To live, is to be engaged in a symbiotic relationship with all of life where we give and receive in an endless rhythmic cycle. Life is an artful relationship with our world where we are both giver and receiver. If we only inhabit the role of the giver, we are already dead. If we are here only to receive, we are already dead.

Growth

We are constantly changing from the day we are born until the day we die. The inevitability of death is in fact another evidence that we are alive. Life is our continual addition to what we already know and believe. Every new experience should add to us and alter the whole. At the end of our life we should be like an old tree where every ring of its trunk tells a story. Evidences of storms and droughts and sunny days and times of plentiful rain are all written in its flesh. Our minds and hearts should be no different; constantly expanding with the providence supplied by each day of life. Life is leaving wiser and fuller than when you arrived. If we decide that we know it all already, we are already dead.

Adaptation

Our mindset has to adapt. We can’t stay stuck in the same songs from yesteryear and refuse to embrace the technology of today. We have to remain relevant. We have to learn new ways of thinking. New ways of being. New ways of expressing the variety of life. Life is about survival. If we do not change with the world we are already dead.

Responding

Inanimate objects do not respond to stimuli. Love.. no response. Hate.. no response. Our ability to relate to each other is perhaps one of the most intangible expressions of the joy of life. Everything is connected. There are trillions of interactions (stimuli and response) taking place on planet earth every second. Life is relationship. Cut off our minds and hearts from the rest of humanity and we are already dead.

Reproduction

We are hard-wired for sex. The primal urge to reproduce is powerful. Not only physically,  there is also a deep human need to leave a piece of ourselves behind or to live on in some meaningful way. We somehow know that we are meant to have impact beyond the length of our days. We want to leave a mark on the world. To live is to leave a legacy that outlives your body. If we are not fulfilling the purpose for which we were born, we are already dead.

Choose to live!

Joyfully,

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls

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The Secret To Never Giving Up

I attended a retreat recently held by Dr. Theodore ‘Theo’ Ferguson, the founder of the revolutionary movement; Leading From Above The Line. The discussions in the main were about purpose. It was a powerful reminder of the driving force that purpose plays in our lives.

It especially resounded with me because I have been wondering lately about my attempts at blogging and if they are having any impact. The facts are that there are very few likes and almost no comments or shares. I suppose what is more discouraging is that only a few of my family and friends even seem interested. I’m not sure if my own sister even reads my blog!  I mean, if your closest people don’t support you, who will?

But, this is all a perception because there are several other possible ‘truths’:

  1. Many friends have liked and commented on various articles that I guess resonated with them, but everything is just not going to resonate with everybody no matter how close they are. To be fair, I’m not as excited about some of the things they get excited about either so what’s the big deal.
  2. People don’t have time to read all this stuff. In fact, our feeds are so inundated with stuff that many things don’t even get our attention and if they do, who has time to read everything?

So I don’t want to present my perception as facts but simply as the thoughts that sometimes discourage me (and I assume many of us).

Before saying anything more, and given that backdrop, I must say how much I appreciate those of you who have liked, commented or shared my offerings and those who have shared with me in person how much you appreciate my writings. Thank you so much for taking the time to encourage me! You don’t know how much it means to me. I also cannot fail to send out my love to the constant cheerleaders in my life (you know who you are) 😊.

Ok, so how does this link with purpose? Well, you see, even though sometimes discouragement looms, I am never unsure about continuing this journey. And that is because I KNOW that this is what I was born to do. To help others (even if it is one person) through sharing my life stories in prose is an integral part of my purpose. I get enjoyment and fulfillment from writing and from helping people. Purpose fuels our passion like nothing else! It is what will keep us going in the face of repeated failure and constant naysayers.

s Theo encouraged us at the retreat, I encourage you… find your purpose and live it!

Joyfully,

Copyright 2018, Matik Nicholls.