31 Days of Scary Hope : encouragement to go from IS to COULD BE

"31 Days of..." is an October let's-make-life-better thing that a mob of great women, including my daughters, are teaming together to do all month. Read 'em all and be blessed HERE.

To subscribe to automatically receive 31 Days of Hope : encouragement to go from IS to COULD BE in a reader or your inbox, click HERE.

The whole series day-by-day:

1. 31 Days of Scary Hope -- (this post -- scroll down)

2. The un-scary part

3. People don't change? Yes they do.

4. From beer to eternity: I changed, too

5. Right to the edge of hope

6. Finding hope beyond the end of hope

6b. When the end of hope isn't

7. 'They' are right

8. Hope as a road trip

9. I hope...

10. Butterflies, Paul, and 2 things about hope

11. Sometimes what you're looking for has to find you

12. So how does a dream that you never had, come true?

13. Dirt grows stuff

14. Look it in the eye

15. 5 reasons hope is scary

16. My dead hope

17. 7 short books that encourage me to go from IS to COULD BE

18. Answer this question and discover your hope

19. The future in your rear-view mirror

20. Stop waiting on hope; commit and click

21. Commit, but keep your ear

22. Make up your mind: Talk or DO

23. Are you waiting for change or are you committed to it?

24. "I can't until..."

25. Everything is temporary

26. What's the purpose of YOUR waiting?

27. Yep, it's scary

30. Three things to do when your immediate hope is squashed

31. You don't get to do what other people do

32. Five things Rango taught me about commitment

33. What is hope?

34. You must see what's not visible yet

35. Scary can be your friend

37. Lose to win

38. Find the end of your story

39. Pep talk from one who made it out of the wilderness of hope

40. The coolest quote ever on hope

41. Confession

42. I think this is why we spend so much time with TV and the internet

43. A little story of misplaced hope

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Day 1

Tomorrow we'll begin talking about hope, Wonderful Hope, the bright sun in the morning, the ring of twelve-string guitars, fresh red strawberries, sleeping puppies, giggling babies, inspiring choruses that never end, and the way the air smells giddy on a surprising warm afternoon in March after a long frozen winter. 

That’s how your dream of fulfilled hope feels, only better.

But first, the scary

Do you really want change?

You want the thing you hope for, and maybe you don’t even know what that thing is, but you yearn and you dream for something beyond your reach.

You have the hope, but do you want the change?

I’ll go first

I have hopes to help and encourage people. I hope to put ideas, stories, and insights that have been in my head for years, into words that open eyes and give a perspective that changes how you see yourself, God, and others. Oh, I so want that! I think endlessly of this, plan lots, work some, finish little. It’s a long-term hope that stays a hope.

I dream, think, have good intentions, and pretend I’ll do it later. Scroll down here and notice the dates of old posts. Sporadic. Comments are off because zero looks lame. Why?

Committing to just this short-term 31 Days thing makes me hesitate. If I’m disciplined, I have two or three hours a day to do it, except for the frequent crazy days when it’s less. Plus, I’m going to Haiti for seven of the days, with no internet. See—no way, right? The way I am now, the way my time is now, I can’t do it.

That’s why I don’t do the long-term hope, either. For the hope to happen, things would change.

Do I really want change? No. But I want the thing I hope for.

Why would you be afraid of what you hope for? Fear of what?

Fear that your life will change. Fear of responsibility and raised expectations. When people have no expectations of you, you’re home free. Nobody notices you, or cares; no loss, no pain. No one knows what they’re missing, and you don’t either. But you have a hunch.

You think, let's keep expectations low and stay hidden. Then there’s no responsibility, no one expects you to show up, and no one will ever be disappointed. You can stay where you are, think about what you hope for, and pretend.

Scary hope

I’ve got hope, but I’m scared. Once you have hope, you’re scared of it happening, and scared of it not. You can’t win.

Are you addicted?

It’s possible to be addicted to the status quo, addicted to not changing, addicted to feeling sorry for yourself, addicted to excuses. Addicted may be a strong word, but that’s the word we use for things we can’t give up.

Jesus asked that sick guy, “Do you want to be healed?” Doesn’t that sound like a cruel thing to say to a sick person? Maybe he knew something about the guy that’s not obvious on the outside. When you have enough excuses, no one dares challenge you because they’ll look heartless. You can rig it so people will be afraid to call you on it, and so things will stay familiar and you never have to take any responsibility for changing. Jesus let the man know he was on to him.

Jesus is on to me, too. How about you? Do you want to change?

Let’s go

During these 31 Days, we’ll face the challenge of change, and we’ll look at the part we want—the thing we hope for. It CAN happen. We’ll hear stories to remind ourselves of how much hope can happen. Some of these stories may simply be interesting, some may inspire you, or some may speak very personally to you.

What are you hoping for? Say it out loud now. Repeat it. I dare you to hear yourself say it.

Comments

[Nester]

I'm so glad you are joining in the mob of great women. Can't wait to read your series! And don't worry, I'll only write a few decorating posts here while you are out of the country.

[Round World]

Truthfully, sometimes the hopes are scary to let come to the surface. They are scary to name. I wrote about this on my anonymous blog - how I need to draw a map with hope about my older son who has autism. He is 18 and we have so many things to teach him - to prepare him to live on his own after we are gone.

[Kristen @ Joyfullythriving]

Oh, how I understand what you said! "Once you have hope, you're scared of it happening, and scared of it not." I'm looking forward to reading and participating in this series with you!

[Gina]

THis is great. So much to mull over. Thank you.

[Nancy]

I really like your blog so I'm glad you're participating in this. I can totally relate to what you're saying so I'm looking forward to reading more....and being encouraged. Thank you.

[Kathleen Grace]

I have come to comment more than once and not been able to! Thanks for enabling comments:>) I read your posts all the time, share them with friends and love your insight into life. A friend and I were just shareing about the scariness of actually changing our lives and folloowing dreams. We all love our little rut. Thanks for this post. Yeah, I want to be healed.

[Gary]

Nester -- Maybe I'll give the password to Emily instead :)

[Gary]

Round -- Wow -- you're facing it and talking about it out loud. On your blog, I'd name your son, even if it's not his real name; or it could be a nickname. 'A' loses impact. Your adventure of drawing your own map could really help others.

[Gary]

Kristen -- Great! Thanks.

[Gary]

Gina -- I'm great at the mulling; the doing is the scary

[Gary]

Nancy -- Great!

[Gary]

Kathleen -- Wonderful; you're welcome.

[Glenda Childers]

How fun to be blogging with your adorable daughters.

Change is hard. I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Fondly,
Glenda
31 days of Christmas wonder (#223)

[Shelley Johannes]

First, that photo with the title "Scary Hope" is awesome. Cracked me up last night when I saw it.
Second, you must be a wonderful father...to have raised and inspired two such inspiring daughters. My 31 days topic is 31 Days to Inspire a Child. You would probably have great advice on the topic. =)

[Round World]

Thanks for the feedback on naming my son on my blog. I've been reading your blog for a while now and appreciate so much the honesty with which you have shared.

[Joy McLaughlin]

I love your honesty. For years I said that I liked change, but I came to realize that it was only when it was initiated by me. I liked to control my change. God has a way of tweaking those areas in our life, doesn't He? I look forward to following your series this month. God bless you!

[Bethany]

What am I hoping for? Redemption. And a change in mind-set. I'm also hoping to be able to live my life in such a way that people are attracted to my Jesus.

[Reese]

His love is Huge and Peaceful. I knew He loved me but I forgot He wanted to Love "On Me". I hope to remain in a consistent state of His Love and in doing that, share it one.person.at.a.time.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Gary.

[Molly]

I want to learn how to live. Really LIVE! I've been faking it my whole life. Dead on the inside, but trying to look alive on the outside. Jesus is calling me forth to LIVE. But the scary part for me is that I don't know hOw! All I know is the counterfeit. So. There it is. I have hope for real, genuine, passion filled life.

[Abbie Knaub]

I want my marriage to be real, exciting and amazing. I want my marriage to be real, exciting and amazing! (Oh my, that is scary, and hopeful. Does repeating it really help?)

[Jaymi]

Love "Do I really want change? No. But I want the thing I hope for." That so acurrately describes what I feel. Also, "It’s possible to be addicted to the status quo." I never thought of it that way.

Great post.

[Jessica]

Wow. Did you write that for me or what! Thank you for this great post. I can't wait to read more of your 31 days of scary hope.

I'm hoping to share my story/my testimony in book form. I'm hoping to help others who have been through similar circumstance as me. I'm hoping to lead people who are broken to their Healer and heavenly Father. I'm hoping to encourage other women and young girls in pursuing emotional and physical purity before marriage. I'm hoping to overcome my fears of public speaking and share the gospel with others including what God has done for me. I'm hoping to be a blessing to others and further God's kingdom.

But first, I must have the courage and discipline to sit down and put in the work that writing requires. Like you said, I want to finally put all of my ideas and thoughts that i've had for years onto paper and put it out there for others to read, even though i'm terrified of what they will think. I'm afraid of rejection, judgment, failure, and not living up to the purpose God's calling me to.