Linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker for her Five Minute Friday writing prompt.
Taking five minutes, without worrying about extreme editing, perfect grammar, font or punctuation and offering up something unscripted, unedited, real.
It is not perfect, nor probably is it profound. Just five minutes of focused writing.
Period.
Today's word prompt is Stretch.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I can't help but remember that time when I was eleven and I begged my mom to sign me up for a gymnastics class. I wanted to be one of those girls who bounced off mats and swung around bars and ended every jump with sparkly flair. But first, I had to learn how.
They had some of the equipment set up, some of the fancy stuff that I wanted to get right to the business of learning how to navigate but
first things first
we had to take all kinds of time to stretch.
Insert extreme moan.
It was hard to be patient and go through the slow, steady work of warming up our muscles. What did these boring, tedious exercises... that were beginning to get painful, by the way...what did these have to do with the fancy mat work that I longed to perfect? I wanted to be a gymnast, remember?
But as I leaned into the poses, feeling every fiber flex and eventually, give in, I slowly saw their purpose. There would be no high flying fantastical routines if I did not, first, do the daily, basic work of stretching.
For to stretch is to challenge, yes, but it is also to shape. To shape, more fully, into what is possible.
Love, love, love the last line: "For to stretch is to challenge, yes, but it is also to shape. To shape, more fully, into what is possible."
ReplyDeleteThat can apply in so many areas! We should be working towards to possible and the impossible!
Great post!
Thank you, Melissa. Now, to fully embrace the truth of those words!
DeleteThis:
ReplyDelete"There would be no high flying fantastical routines if I did not, first, do the daily, basic work of stretching."
this is an analogy for so many things we hope to acheieve in life--first we mst be stretched, we must prepare, we must follow the steps, as He orders them. Loved this. Bless you!
Kris,
DeleteSo glad you stopped by. And yes, I can't tell you how much I am being challenged with the daily...it is a recurring theme in my life right now and I know that God is surely using it for something huge.
Great analogy! May I continue to be stretched so to become fully in "shape".
ReplyDeleteHappy FMF...
For to stretch is to challenge, yes, but it is also to shape - love this line. It covers all areas of life doesn't it? I know I've wanted to paint in the beauty, experience the end result before all the taping and prep work in so many areas of life. Lovely to meet you through FMF.
ReplyDeleteI've hurt through so many times of stretching, yet each time I'm shaped more closely into the image of Christ. It hurts, yes, but necessary to my desire to be like my Jesus.
ReplyDeleteLove your words here...so true. We can't get to the " main thing" without first practicing, training, etc. I love that our God doesn't let us stay the way we are...
ReplyDeleteOh how often I am tempted to skip the boring exercises and go straight for the high bar! But that will so often result in injury rather than glory. Finding the discipline for the dull warm up is a daily learning.
ReplyDeleteMy mom used to always say, "Stretch and grow!" So true, but we despise the small things sometimes. Lovely five minutes!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words here of truth. I have wanted to skip stages and steps and go ahead. Grateful when the Lord slows me down to move ahead in His timing. This analogy rings of truth to me. Love that I am getting to know you and your heart through your writing. So glad we met. I didn't do 5 minute Friday today because I felt the call to write in a different direction, but I missed the community so I am stopping by. :)
ReplyDeleteStretch those muscles. I need to do more of that. Thanks for the reminder. What would I do without you to help me through the day? hugs
ReplyDeleteHolly,
ReplyDeleteOh, reading these FMF posts make me smile. All so different and unique, and to think...you are the only one who has mentioned gymnastics. Hello, of course, the perfect tie in!