Friday, September 11, 2015

One Foot In Front of The Other

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed," (2 Corinthians 4:8).

The life of a creative can be very complex.  As a basis to the spectrum, creatives continually deal with being visionaries; seeing something that isn’t and engineering ways to bring it to fruition.  They are much like inventors.  

Probably also like inventors, they are continually having their work judged, criticized, rejected.   And bonus, sometimes their work gets through only to have the new owner say “See you later” and reject them.

There are many voices internal and external that creatives, especially, deal with.  Course, you may be the furthest from a creative and struggle in the same ways, days in and out.   It happens to everyone.   It even happens to my dogs.

Without fail, whenever we go on a walk, there are bigger, meaner dogs, barking their heads off at my pups.   I watch my dogs shrink up and stiffen, wanting to freeze and return home NOW.  

However, I gently say: “Just keep walking.  Come on, you can do it.”  As little as they are, I see their bodies buck up, grit their teeth, and they walk on.  But if they look over at the mean madness while passing, they’ll shrink up again until I instruct them once more to just keep walking.  They get past the loudness time over time.  

But even still, I gotta say that one of these dogs has a bark that is, in particular, LOUD.   I almost can’t even hear myself think.  And it occurred to me yet again today that this is the world in which we all live. 

A world where a loud bark can rip away at our souls, paralyzing us from where we should be going.  Do you have a loud bark in your life?  

Keep in mind, that these barks could be your very own thoughts.  Sometimes the criticism that hurts the worst is our own.   Then, we tend to project that feeling, whatever it may be, onto someone else (likely those we love) manifesting it in one way or another.  Catch yourself one time and you’ll see.

The Bible instructs us in "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," (2 Cor. 10:5).  There are many reasons for this.  But, for today, capture the very thought you are thinking right now and ask yourself:  Does it line up to what Christ says about you?  If not, chuck it out.  

Ask again.  Does this thought line up with any of the promises of God?  If not, you know where it goes.  

Ask again and again.  If the thought is anything counter to Christ you know it’s outcome.  It’s gotta go.  

Then, it is almost like you are released, to go where you need to go.  At least, one thought at a time.

Here's one reason why:

“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body,” (2 Cor. 4:9).

Just as we crucify the thoughts that are not of Him, what wells up in us is all that He promised us:  new life.  

Part of that new life is generating new growth in your life -- like finding an activity that is safe, your own, where you can feel good.

Richard Bass known as "Dick Bass", chose hiking as a means to get away from the loud barks.  At age 52, he was the first ever to summit the seven highest mountains throughout the world.  He was also the founder of Snowbird, a ski resort in Utah.  Interestingly enough, in his book, “Seven Summits,” it is chronicled how even he was constantly battling potential failures and an overwhelming amount of naysayers.  Ironic that he climbs the tallest peaks of planet specifically to get away from it all.  



When asked in an article in Forbes magazine, if he hiked professionally, his answer is enlightening.  

“All I did was put one foot in front of the other until I got there with a big pack on my back, reciting poems,” he said. 

www.engenmuseum.org


Amazing.  

This summer, I lived out these very words before ever reading them on these sites or in his book.  My husband and I traveled to Montana and climbed to the top of Grinnell Glacier, six miles high.  It’s no Everest, but it’s the highest peak I’ve ever climbed (and, we still had to travel 6 miles back down the mountain.)

http://www.glacier-national-park-travel-guide.com/grinnell-glacier.html
Good grief, a 12 mile hike was nothing short of tough.  We walked through different terrains, climates, in and out of rain, through waterfalls, up the rocks, back down the rocks and around plenty of switchbacks (which I’ve decided I don’t really like.  Kind of like those zig zag lines at a place you really want to go.  UGH!  Just get me there, please.)

©Candice Irion.  All Rights Reserved. 

Trekking up, I quoted Scripture to myself, I counted numbers, I huffed and puffed and sometimes my exhaustion would puff out a poor attitude to my sweet husband.   No bueno.   But, aside from those couple of missteps, I did everything I could.  It seemingly took forever!  At some points, I just closed my eyes and put one foot in front of the other.  And it was in this action when I realized…

that’s all it took. 

The force to just place one exhausted leg in front of the other combined with the determination not to give up was what got me up that mountain.  Granted, my strength was not my own, but the Lord’s for sure, because little ol’ Candice could never get herself up that mountain.
©Candice Irion.  All Rights Reserved. 
The best cold water ever!  My summit on Grinnell Glacier. 

I believe the same is true for what you want to accomplish and for what you battle every single day.  With God’s strength, you too, can make it.   Just keep walking.  

Not to say that whoosh! all fear and timidity in doing so will evaporate.  No, not at all.  In fact, if you hop over to one of my previous blogs, you’ll see, sometimes, you just have to do it afraid.  You can also check out 1 Corinthians 2 where Paul attests to the same.

Like Dick Bass, I truly admire people who just go forth and do it, despite their fear, despite the loud barks and accomplish such enormous heights in their life.  People like him set out to do the impossible… 

Just like all the creatives who see the vision and table all the “don’t quit your day job” remarks, rejection and self loathing to get the piece made, the film produced, the painting drawn.  

So, as a fellow creative, here’s what I deduce: 

Art demands to be born.  It shouts for freedom and won’t release you until you give it wings, then let it go.  

So just keep walking, drawing, painting, producing, day in and day out.  Ignore the big mean dogs and capture each thought and hold it up to Christ. See if it is even truth.  

Then base your beginning on what is truth and just keep walking, placing one foot in front of the other, with the strength from on High.

And you too, might just summit your Everest.

Summiting his mountain.
©Candice Irion.  All Rights Reserved. 
Me summiting mine.



www.robertferrone.com
On top of his beloved Snowbird.
"
Bass said he felt blessed to have developed Snowbird "in a fantastic piece of God's creation".



Godspeed to you friend!
All the best,
Candice



This blog is written in part as a tribute to Dick Bass, a dear family member who just passed away.  As accomplished as he was, Dick was always humble, kind and loved to share relative stories, if not, his poems.  But, maybe it was his outlook that is his greatest accomplishment.  For he continued day in and out in stride, always trying harder, envisioning the greater, and never giving up in life.  Not even when he died.  He is a man who lived fully, loved hard and one who could always put a smile on your face.  I know he did mine.  Every. Single. Time.  And if there is no greater gift an interaction could hold, it is the exchange of good cheer, a reflection of our Creator and a smile with which to face the day.  Thanks Dick!  I'll miss you always. 

www.lanabird.com
Just how I remember him.  Always happy, kind and smiling.  


Another note... if you want to see a story about another person who was inspired by Dick Bass, check out the upcoming movie, Everest, about a man (Beck Weathers) who climbed insurmountable odds and achieved his dream.  He and Dick knew each other and Beck credits Dick as his inspiration.  For more on the life of Dick Bass, click here. Here is a photo tribute from Snowbird.  


Forbes Online Magazine, July 27, 2015, Jim Clash


#dickbass, #dickbassisawesome, #onefootinfrontoftheother, #everest, #everestmovie, #sevensummitts, #facebookeverestmovie





Monday, June 15, 2015

Empowered By God

As Christians, we are challenged to stand in solidarity with our those who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ by remembering them, praying for them and standing up against the crimes against them.  

Considering this call to commitment to remember, pray and stand for them, it is also a call to continue to stand for the hope we have in all of our lives.  

Further, it is to continually remember that no matter the trials we face, we are empowered by God.  Today's message comes by way of a graphic I created, easy for you to print or share on your sites.  

It is a list of truths that embolden us for the days we face.  It is a tool for you to remember that:

You are predestined.
You are entrusted.
You are equipped.
You are prepared.
You are protected

And to go forth boldly!  

Remember these truths.  Wrap your mind around them.  For they will strengthen you in the deepest of hurts and in the fiercest of circumstances.  


Photo and All Content © 2015.  Candice Irion.  All Rights Reserved.




Wednesday, May 27, 2015

The No-Bake Vacation: Recalibrating Life's Drama without Leaving Home.

You name it, it's happened. As my Granddad would paraphrase: "It's been a hell of a spring." And it has been.

The betrayal of a close friend. The loss of a family member. Then another death; this time a friend. Disagreements with those at work. Having a project consume every bit of you for countless reasons. 

Anxiety.
Fear.
Doubt.

Burnout.

And that's just the half of it. 

Health issues. Medical bills. The feeling of the loss of control. The unshakable anger when others perceive you falsely and treat you not just unfairly, but harmfully. STRESS.

Unbelievable stress.

I didn’t even go into all the other issues involved with those near to us and all the fear, anxiety, doubt we take on because we are invested in their lives.  Wow. 

It's been a hell of a spring.

Not to mention the torrential storms the South has endured. Seems to be a parallel.

Indeed a parallel. 

I need to get out. I need a vacation.  Know the feeling?

Don't we all desire that escape from the myriad of problems which circulate through our minds relentlessly like a cyclone and its destruction? 

Better yet, wouldn’t it be great to find that full proof way to vacate our never-ending issues without the expense of a vacation.  Ha! Sounds to good to be true? It is.  Never Ending=Never Ending.  

But what if we were to recalibrate the issues? 

Try this on for size:

"Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;" 

This small, simple phrase in Proverbs 22:10 is huge in value. It helps us understand that simple boundaries around the drama are key for containing the massive monster. 

Never Ending + Scripture = Not Without Hope.

Think about it. When you go to the theater, where do you go? To a stage, to an opera house... to a contained four wall venue. Some go to a black box theater. Four black walls with actors and casual seating; not a lot of overhead. There is a reason drama is in a box.

There's a parallel there too.

Our drama-riddled lives also need boundaries. They need containing. In order to put Proverbs into action, we must decide to back out of whatever is causing us that drama. Maybe the friendship (as tough as it is) needs to go. Maybe the work issue or relational argument just needs to stop, regardless of who is right or wrong. Maybe the project just needs to be let go of, sending it on its way. Maybe the expectation needs to be lowered.  Maybe.... the issue is you and you need to step away to reassess.  (Ouch, I hate when it turns out to be about me!)  Whichever the case, boundaries are required to harness the drama. 

Some may scoff and say: "There is no way!! I can't get out of this. I can't get away from this loss I'm enduring! There is no containment to the heartache I feel." How true this is so many times in life.  I’ve been there more times than I’d like to have been.

Yet there is still hope. No matter the spectrum of drama you are facing, there are moments where you must step back and recalibrate. Look at it from another angle.  

Anne Graham Lotz says: “that when there is a storm moving through your life, God is moving.” She's right.

When our worlds are being uprooted and our lives are swirling, we feel like we are in the eye of a twister.  But from a different angle, we can see that we are also in a position to see the hand of God carrying us through. We are in earshot of hearing our Savior say: “Come," to walk with Him on the tumultuous waters and away from our boats. 

And with every step, we, like Paul, will wrestle with anxiety, fear and doubt; our vision absorbed with the rough winds and frightful seas. But those are exactly the same moments when Jesus reaches out for us and says: "You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).

Because the only thing that really allows us to walk through the cyclones of life is the fixation upon the eyes of the Savior. For while we maintain that hard, unwavering stare, the distractions of the death-defying events surrounding us (like those deep seas that just want to swallow us alive) are simletaneously diminishing.   The effects of our drama lesson as we walk toward Christ, not toward our problems.  

Also realize, that in doing this, fixing our eyes on Christ it isn't just through an external glare, but an internal one too. I’ve come to the conclusion that we have two sets of visions: what our eyes see, and what our minds display.  Think about this example.  You see a beautiful rose, pink, yellow and it smells amazing.  You are visually stare at it while your mind's eye takes you back to a vivid memory with that same flower.  Thus, you see both the flower and the memory at the same time.  

Hence, it is our internal focus which must be that much sharper than our external one, because it is that focus, fueled on faith alone, that will help us recalibrate our views and stance despite what we are visually seeing (and experiencing). In super hero terms, it is our x-ray vision that will help us overcome. 

Even though, and I don’t know about you, but, I'm no superhero.  Although, it would be fun to be Wonder Woman with her great hair, and I gotta hand it to you, She-Ra was really pretty cool too.  

But “what am I smokin?”  Those women were made up.   She-Ra was drawn.  Wonder Woman’s hair was done by a stylist and redone after each take. They both are characters developed in someone’s internal vision of what they --and subsequent viewers-- wanted themselves to be.  The only reality to Superheroes is the desire we share to take on the world and overcome.  How mistaken we are to expect ourselves to be a fictitious characters.  No wonder the devastation when everything falls apart. (Note to self: Nix trying to be Wonder Woman.  Just take the Stylist.) :)

Truth be told, we don’t need the cape or the vacation to overcome our problems. We don’t even really need ourselves.  We just need to get out of the way and let the only One who can deal with the drama, do His job.

You know Who I’m talking about.

And, when we recalibrate our gaze on Christ, when we change our internal perspective and dwell on the promises of God versus the problems of our spinning worlds, we will then see our drama differently, by which containing it, and we can find ourselves free.   We can find joy amidst our problems.  

Say what?  

Yup.  You read it right.  J-o-y.  Joy.  Never thought you’d find it here, did you?  Nor did I.  But what a treasure to find and only in faith is it found. 

Look, I’ll be the first to attest that battling drama is never easy. It constantly feels like a restart from square one. I thought I learned years ago what I'm relearning today. Such is the human condition. Honestly speaking, it is probably my perspective of myself that needs a restart. Do you feel the same way about you? Thank goodness for grace! God knows our hearts!!

So, if I can offer any encouragement for battling drama, it is to recalibrate. 
Realize that God is moving in your life. He is using the bad for good. 
Refocus both external and internal visions upon the promises of God. 
Restrain the drama with boundaries. See it differently.
Then, inhale some fresh air and take the step of faith with an unwavering focus upon the Savior. 

And you, too, will find yourself upon the rough waters, walking through the storm... and without the temporary vacation.


What a hell of a spring, indeed.






Copy and Photos ©2015, Candice Irion.  All Rights Reserved.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Imperfections Are Perfect

An artists work is simply not perfect, no matter how much they try to attain it.  

And that’s the beauty of it.

Because what is being perfect anyway?  Some standard of measurement that an individual or fluctuating culture set?  

Why do we rack our brains trying to push something to this illusive bar?  

Because in reality, it’s the imperfections that bring the richness of soul.

It’s the struggle that brings meaning.

It’s the heart behind any piece that brings its value and...

it’s the love poured into, invested in and cultivated where the piece gets its worth.

So what is perfection?  Really, not worth obtaining.  

So embrace the flaws, the failures, the muck.  For out of those, true character is born.  

And that in and of itself, is perfect.  Because only in those walls, that fine print, do we find a Holy God, holding us up, leading us out and loving us beyond measure.  And He is perfect. 

So follow Him.  Let go of shifting standards that are not His.  

And do the work.  
Create the piece.  
Do what you are called to do. 


For in its imperfections, God makes it perfect.

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us," (Rom. 5:3-5).  


Photo © Candice Irion, 2015.  
This piece didn't look like this the first time I finished it.  An onlooker came by, picked it up and broke the front wall!! While I was operating on it during "surgery",  I broke another piece! Ugh.  
Others would say: "just let it go", "scrap the piece".  But, I couldn't.  I had to save it.  
And it came out way better than planned, making the perfect gift.  


And the same is true with each one of us too.  

In our imperfections we are made perfect through the grace of God and the blood of Christ.  Those broken pieces, He restores.

For like our artistic pieces, we are God's masterpiece.  

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do," (Eph. 2:10). 

So, whatever faults, failures and the muck we have, He sees Himself not in our sin, but in the redemption of our sin.  

And in His eyes, there is nothing imperfect about our salvation.  For He gave it to us for the enriching of our souls.    

Therefore, regardless of what you've done, remember:  

It’s the struggle that brings meaning; for it leads us to God. 

It’s the heart turned towards Him that deepens our faith, which He counts of greatest value and...

it’s His love poured into, invested in and cultivated in us where we get our worth.

So what is perfection?  Really, only obtained in Christ.

So embrace your flaws, your failures, your muck.  For out of these, true character is resurrected.  

And that in and of itself, is perfect.  

Because only in those walls, that fine print, do we find a Holy God, holding us up, leading us out and loving us beyond measure.  And He is perfect. 

So follow Him.  Let go of shifting standards that are not His.  

And do the work.  
Clothe your perishable self in the imperishable.  
Press forward and...
Do what you are called to do. 


For in our imperfections, God makes us perfect.

"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.  The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body," (1 Cor. 15: 42-44).  

"For the perishable must cloth itself with the imperishable and the immortal with immortality.  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:  Death has been swallowed up in victory," (1 Cor. 15: 53).   

"He gives us the victory in our Lord Jesus Christ," (1 Cor. 15: 57).  

"These have come so that your faith --of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire --may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed," (1 Peter 1:7).

Copy and Photo © Candice Irion, 2015.  All Rights Reserved.  
Scripture Passages:  Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians and 1 Peter.  Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible:  New International Version.  Chattanooga, TN:  AMG, 1996.  Print. 

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

"Just Do It Afraid"

“Just Do It Afraid”  a title coined by Eric T. Wagnor, on forbes.com inspired my blog today.  

For many, creatives and entrepreneurs especially, just getting your stuff out there is scary business.  

If I listed all the many reasons of why a creative or entrepreneur should hold back, you’d probably stop reading.

However, if all they did was hold back, we certainly wouldn’t have many of the artistic works or businesses that enhance our lives.  Many of these, we place such a high value on that our lives now depend on them.

Consider….
The music that gets you through a hurt.  What if the songwriter held back?

The film that is the only thing that can make you laugh.  What if the filmmaker or anyone involved said: “I can’t”? 

The business that helps you manage your life?  The banker? The CPA?  The______ (you fill in the blank).

What about the comfort a restaurant brings?

Or…
What if the Apostle Paul never wrote or never preached?  Where would we be without the words the Holy Spirit inspired him to say?  
(On a funny side, where would many weddings be without 1 Cor. 13? “Love is patient, love is kind…”?)

You get the point.

So what did Paul and the rest do?  I think Eric said it well:  (They) “Just Did It Afraid”. 

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony[a] of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human[b] wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.


Consider Paul’s journey.  When he wrote this, he had been preaching for a while… and he still had fear.

Consider Joshua in the Old Testament.  The dude had trounced through the parting of the Red Sea and had served under Moses for years.  He was definitely experienced… and he feared!

I love how God met Joshua's fear with encouragement when He comissioned Joshua to pursue the promised land.

“Do not be terrified.  Do not be discouraged.  For the Lord your God, will be with you wherever you go,” (Joshua 1:9).

Look at any businessman or creative and I bet they’d admit, yes, fear goes with the territory.

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear,”  Mark Twain.


There is always going to be something to fear.  That’s part of our nature; to agonize.  

Ps. 37:5 says:  “Do not fret, for it only causes harm,” (NKJV).  

Think of how much illness is caused by stress?  We have all suffered our share.

Thus, what do we do?

If fear is inevitable, then we must place boundaries around it or fear will become our idol, the very thing that enslaves us.  

Consider how many decisions you make out of fear.  Alarming, isn’t it?  

Our first step, then, is to ask for God’s wisdom in how to handle the situation.  Submit it to Him and wait for His answer.  Search His word and wait for His confirmation.

Secondly, outline the boundaries you will give to fear.   Fear will rule your life if you let it because without proper boundaries around it, fear will conjure up more fear and then drive you insane.  (Haven’t we all been there?!)

Third.  Depend on God’s strength, not your own.  Paul was able to speak because he refused to base his message on his own ability.  He based it on the dependable, never changing, trustworthy God, whose Spirit gives us everything we need when we need it.  

Ultimately, realize what Fear’s goal is.  Fear wants to be an idol.  So does Negativity.  So does everything within our fallen nature.  They all want to be idols.

And what do idols want?  To enslave.  

But, God wants to bring freedom.

So, choose the path that allows for freedom.  Place boundaries around fear and most importantly….

Rest knowing that with God you do not have to fear.  For with Him, you can trust His ability, His strength and His power.  You can trust His wisdom, which is why you must seek it, then remain in it.


And know that God has planned something special inside of you-- even if it doesn't feel that way-- (really, don't trust your feelings on this.)

It is a treasure that is meant to:
come forth,
be enjoyed, 
and bring other's closer to Him.  


Don't allow fear to deny this birth, 
this being, 
that is meant to bring life to others.

So.....

Go do what you have been called to do and know that God is with you the entire way.  


Just Do It Afraid.  

p.s.  a friend sent me a message after reading today's blog with words spoken by the actor Jim Carey.  His words are so relevant:  "You can fail at what you don't want.  So, you might as well take a chance at doing what you love."  Thanks, Friend(:


Copy © Candice Irion, 2015.  All Rights Reserved.
"Just Do It Afraid," excerpt from: "3 Ways To Stop Fear From Stealing Your Dreams".  Wagoner, Eric T.  Forbes.com, 11.29.2012.