If you look up the word 'feminine' in the dictionary, you will find a
picture of Shanaya. I never knew a child could come out of the womb
that way. Shanaya is our little singing canary and loves all things
foofy, frilly, and lacy. Accessories are never used sparingly with
her either. She even wears necklaces in her hair, hanging from her
up-do's! She adores wearing dresses and was so excited when I bought
her different colored leggings to match her dresses. Oh, and shoes.
Can't forget that. She loves shoes!
Four-year old Shanaya loves all things domestic as well. Dishes,
cooking, cleaning, are pure joy to her. I'm jealous. She loves her
babies. She was born to mother her dolls. It was really eye opening
to witness her need to do this.
But perhaps the most remarkable thing to experience about her is how
much passion she has for dance, particularly ballet. A couple of months ago, Jonalyn our nanny began helping Shanaya learn some ballet moves. With Jonalyn's experience with ballet, combined with her expertise in physical therapy, and her loving arms and heart she has helped Shanaya's dance dream to come to life. She even practices her pliés in the shower!
I got to thinking about how Shanaya's body is certainly not typical
of a dancer, as she cannot even walk on her own. She cannot get off
the floor if she is sitting or laying. She needs so much physical
help to move, yet the passion for dance transforms her body. I am in
awe when I watch her dance, as she has so much grace and poise, and
her face radiates pure joy.
As I followed this thought, I reflected on my God given desires, and
wondered if I am realizing them, or even acknowledging them at all.
Am I allowing the passions I have for various interest to transform
me in spite of all my imperfections, and inabilities? Am I even
refraining from pursuing my interests and passions because of this?
Thoughts such as "Oh, I could never do that", or "I am not good
enough to do that" perhaps inhabits more of my thoughts than I care
to admit.
I am so inspired by Shanaya and her dancing, in spite of a body that
"can't" or "shouldn't", she does - and so beautifully. May I learn to
follow the dance of my heart as Shanaya does, and trust God to give
me the grace, poise, joy, and to use me, just as I am.
Written by Shanaya's Mom, Karen M.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
From Val Lieske's "talk" at Women of Heart...
Journey to Joy -- That's a great title.
I don't really 'believe' in happiness. It is too elusive and dependent on things we may or may not be able to control. Like our health, or other peoples health, our income, where we were born, who our parents are, if I had a good nights sleep or the size of our nose. I made a decision sometime ago to try not to base the direction of my day on whether or not I was 'happy'. I chose to be joyful...most days. I also like that you recognize that it is a journey. One that will take a lifetime to reach our destination.
There are many things that bring me joy but this morning I'm going to talk about my journey to becoming an artist.
I guess you could say that my journey began in grade 5 when I became cognizant of the fact I could entertain people. To this day, I LOVE making people smile. I never seriously pursued my desire to create and perform until only 5 years ago. Oh I took drama in school and volunteered here at the church but I never considered it a viable career option. You can't be a Christian and be an artist - you can't make money and be an artist. One of those is true.
Now I should say that my mother did see a spark of something in me and decided to enroll me in piano lessons. After 5 or 6 years -I couldn't play "row row row your boat" if you paid me a million dollars. Sorry mom. Fast forward to about 4 and a half years ago. I had been working at the Royal Bank for 13 years slowly moving up the corporate ladder when one grey October morning I was 'right-sized' out of the organization. I sat in my car in the parkade, with a small cardboard box in my lap wondering what people did on Tuesday mornings if they didn't have a job. I spent 6 months trying to figure that out.
I got a life coach who encouraged me to ask myself the hard questions -- like what does your perfect day look like? what do you really, really want to do? After dancing around the idea for many months I finally said the words out loud – “I want to be an artist". "Fine" she said, "be one." Easy for her to say. I gave myself another 6 months to 'become an artist'. Whatever that meant. I am still becoming an artist.
I won’t bore you will all the details of things I’ve done along the way to ‘artist-hood’ but suffice it to say that I’ve acted, directed, written, produced, stage managed, been a teacher and a student. Of all the things I’ve done I am probably most proud of my theatre company - Fire Exit Theatre. We are in our 6th season – we are Western Canada’s only faith-based theatre. We don’t call ourselves a Christian Theatre Company because I don’t know what one is. I don't like labelling things as "Christian". It only seems to separate us more from the very people we are trying to reach. I don’t believe in ‘them’ and ‘us’. We are all on a journey with God whether we know it or not. We are all simply artists.
Why I started FET? I want to be able to tell the truth -- I want to be able to show the darkness to make the bright that much brighter. The truth is often ugly …messy ...complicated … not everyone in the church is quite ready for this truth. I want community between churches, between artists. I want to create in a neutral space.
I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now. I had hoped that knowing that I am “in God’s will” would make my life easier. Not so much/ My journey to joy has been full of great sadness – watching my father die 3 years ago and finding my brother dead in June.
Another part of my journey is working at CSC. I love the 'platform' and resources that I have to create here. But ministry is hard. Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches. Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years. Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression.
Working in ministry has made me afraid to open my emails. Almost weekly I receive harsh criticism for things people have seen on stage and don't agree with or simply don't understand. I have been told that people want church to be comfortable. I don't agree. Church should challenge you, church should spur you on to action, church should create conversations in the car ride home..or why bother coming. But I continue to feel called to be here at CSC. To make changes from the inside out.
I feel like Eric Liddell from the movie 'Chariots of Fire' when he says, "I know God made me for a purpose but he also made me fast and I feel His pleasure when I run." I feel God's pleasure when I write and perform and direct and create.
My life verse is "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. – Eph 4:1" I am very aware of the very public persona I have and that I am being watched. I truly want to live my life with integrity and purpose. I urge you to figure out your calling - your journey - what you were put on this planet to do...and then do it. Listen for God's voice, surround yourself with people that will ask you the hard questions, and never give up.
Val Lieske
Director of Theatre Arts-CSC
Artistic Director-Fire Exit Theatre
www.fireexit.ca
val@fireexit.ca
Journey to Joy -- That's a great title.
I don't really 'believe' in happiness. It is too elusive and dependent on things we may or may not be able to control. Like our health, or other peoples health, our income, where we were born, who our parents are, if I had a good nights sleep or the size of our nose. I made a decision sometime ago to try not to base the direction of my day on whether or not I was 'happy'. I chose to be joyful...most days. I also like that you recognize that it is a journey. One that will take a lifetime to reach our destination.
There are many things that bring me joy but this morning I'm going to talk about my journey to becoming an artist.
I guess you could say that my journey began in grade 5 when I became cognizant of the fact I could entertain people. To this day, I LOVE making people smile. I never seriously pursued my desire to create and perform until only 5 years ago. Oh I took drama in school and volunteered here at the church but I never considered it a viable career option. You can't be a Christian and be an artist - you can't make money and be an artist. One of those is true.
Now I should say that my mother did see a spark of something in me and decided to enroll me in piano lessons. After 5 or 6 years -I couldn't play "row row row your boat" if you paid me a million dollars. Sorry mom. Fast forward to about 4 and a half years ago. I had been working at the Royal Bank for 13 years slowly moving up the corporate ladder when one grey October morning I was 'right-sized' out of the organization. I sat in my car in the parkade, with a small cardboard box in my lap wondering what people did on Tuesday mornings if they didn't have a job. I spent 6 months trying to figure that out.
I got a life coach who encouraged me to ask myself the hard questions -- like what does your perfect day look like? what do you really, really want to do? After dancing around the idea for many months I finally said the words out loud – “I want to be an artist". "Fine" she said, "be one." Easy for her to say. I gave myself another 6 months to 'become an artist'. Whatever that meant. I am still becoming an artist.
I won’t bore you will all the details of things I’ve done along the way to ‘artist-hood’ but suffice it to say that I’ve acted, directed, written, produced, stage managed, been a teacher and a student. Of all the things I’ve done I am probably most proud of my theatre company - Fire Exit Theatre. We are in our 6th season – we are Western Canada’s only faith-based theatre. We don’t call ourselves a Christian Theatre Company because I don’t know what one is. I don't like labelling things as "Christian". It only seems to separate us more from the very people we are trying to reach. I don’t believe in ‘them’ and ‘us’. We are all on a journey with God whether we know it or not. We are all simply artists.
Why I started FET? I want to be able to tell the truth -- I want to be able to show the darkness to make the bright that much brighter. The truth is often ugly …messy ...complicated … not everyone in the church is quite ready for this truth. I want community between churches, between artists. I want to create in a neutral space.
I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now. I had hoped that knowing that I am “in God’s will” would make my life easier. Not so much/ My journey to joy has been full of great sadness – watching my father die 3 years ago and finding my brother dead in June.
Another part of my journey is working at CSC. I love the 'platform' and resources that I have to create here. But ministry is hard. Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches. Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years. Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression.
Working in ministry has made me afraid to open my emails. Almost weekly I receive harsh criticism for things people have seen on stage and don't agree with or simply don't understand. I have been told that people want church to be comfortable. I don't agree. Church should challenge you, church should spur you on to action, church should create conversations in the car ride home..or why bother coming. But I continue to feel called to be here at CSC. To make changes from the inside out.
I feel like Eric Liddell from the movie 'Chariots of Fire' when he says, "I know God made me for a purpose but he also made me fast and I feel His pleasure when I run." I feel God's pleasure when I write and perform and direct and create.
My life verse is "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. – Eph 4:1" I am very aware of the very public persona I have and that I am being watched. I truly want to live my life with integrity and purpose. I urge you to figure out your calling - your journey - what you were put on this planet to do...and then do it. Listen for God's voice, surround yourself with people that will ask you the hard questions, and never give up.
Val Lieske
Director of Theatre Arts-CSC
Artistic Director-Fire Exit Theatre
www.fireexit.ca
val@fireexit.ca
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Think on These Things
Philippians 4:8 - Finally brothers and sisters,
How can we do this...
From the book The 4:8 Principle, here is a suggestion on how to start.
My Top Five
whatever is true
whatever is noble
whatever is right
whatever is pure
whatever is lovely
whatever is admirable
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.
whatever is noble
whatever is right
whatever is pure
whatever is lovely
whatever is admirable
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.
How can we do this...
From the book The 4:8 Principle, here is a suggestion on how to start.
My Top Five
- What are 5 things I am thankful for right now?
- What are 5 of my strengths or positive traits?
- What are 5 of my best achievements so far?
- Who are the 5 people who love me the most?
- What 5 things am I looking forward to in the next seven days?
Six Word Stories - New Ones
- Be content, love what you have!
- God loves you no matter what
- With God's help - love your body!
- Quilts for Ukrainian children made lovingly.
- Scripture memorization: God speaks to me
- Fierce conversations, a very exciting course
Monday, March 10, 2008
More Six Word Stories
- I can get Home from here.
- Love them all, always in God.
- Laugh Freely, Love Fully, Live Extraordinary.
- Be Happy, Live well, enjoy life! (J.H.)
- Life is hard...God is good (C.M.)
- Saved, forgiven, broken, healed, rested, peaceful.
- I am a Child of God.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Children's Security at CSC
We care very much about the safety and security of the children and for that reason we use id tags during Women of Heart as well. There are a limited number of reusable visitor parent/child tag sets so please remember to leave them with us each week. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Photo id tags for you and your child(ren) are free. A little time investment in this will save time in the future.
Jesus loved to spend time with little children and we do too!
Photo id tags for you and your child(ren) are free. A little time investment in this will save time in the future.
Jesus loved to spend time with little children and we do too!
Monday, March 03, 2008
Six Word Stories
Thank you to Alison L for suggesting that we have fun with this.
Here are a few from last week:
Here are a few from last week:
- Live Free - Love Massive - Smile Large
- It's all the Lord's money anyway!
- Have you had a break today? (C.F.)
- It is well with my soul
- Everyday, it's You I'll live for
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)