Not only is this the beginning of a new year, it is the marker of having lived a half century for me. This turning point in my life is the perfect time to ask myself what Ann Voskamp calls the Hagar Question, "Where are you coming from and where are you going to?" "Where are you coming from?" Ah, there is so much in having lived 50 years of life. Who is Rebecca Lynn Pancake Flood? Formative events from each decade...
Where are you going to, Rebecca Lynn? I am approaching the second half of my life in humble surrender. I am an Enneagram Five. I am the investigator. Defined in the Road Back to You as "analytical, detached and private, they are motivated by a need to gain knowledge, conserve energy and avoid relying on others." Part of my motivation to gain knowledge is to have a sense of control (not relying on others.) The desire to gain knowledge itself is not bad but the desire to be in control is not always good. During my devotional time this week I was wondering what the opposite of control is. The word that came to me is SURRENDER. I added the word humble after reading A Prayer for the Beginning of a Year by Wayne Garvey. I Corinthians 8:1 states that knowledge puffs up while love builds up. I desire to build others up in love and I can see how that ties nicely into being a personal life coach. The knowledge I want to gain is in getting to know the story of the other. In one of my favorite Christmas movies, It's a Wonderful Life, Clarence the angel learns that in order to help someone you need to get to know them. The first half of the movie is Clarence getting to know the life of George Bailey so he might be able to help him. In the next half century of my life I humbling surrender my life to you Lord. I surrender my gifts and my talents to be used to build others up in love. This is where I am going. This painting is by Renoir and is in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. Renoir is one of my favorite artists. The expression on this young woman's face and her demeanor stood out to me and is a visual reminder to me of humble surrender. I see her as relaxed and not anxious. She has a slight smile on her face. With this same demeanor I am beginning 2023.
4 Comments
Eric Flood
1/3/2023 11:47:34 am
Rebecca Lynn, I admire your ability to capture a lot in an economy of words. I love the pictures you chose--they are evocative. And I'm excited to see where humble surrender will take you. Love.
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Ev Janke
1/3/2023 10:31:12 pm
I see so much about you in this writing. I know our loving Father is using you as it's your desire to build others up. Praying for wonderful surprises in 2023. I love you!
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Becky Flood
1/4/2023 09:30:30 am
Thank you, Ev. We are grateful for your prayers that helped carry us through this past year. I am looking forward to those wonderful surprises in 2023! Love, Becky
Marge
1/4/2023 02:48:37 pm
Becky, this was a lovely recap of a lovely woman. It made me think about myself, too, and how blessed I am to know you.
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AuthorI am a woman who loves everything about making a house a home. I enjoy meal planning, cooking, baking, sewing, crafting, and decorating. Not so much cleaning and laundry, but that goes along with caring for a home. I am blessed to be married to a pastor and we have had the privilege of raising two daughters. Archives
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