Sometimes You Just Have to Say Yes

So what was it that took me to IF:Boston (The Local event for IF:Gathering) in the first place? Really, it doesn't seem like my kind of thing if you think you know me. And if you really DO know me, you know that it really IS...and really ISN'T.

2 things got me there. Well, 2 people anyway got me there.
Allison asked and  Ann Voscamp wrote.

Allison asked. She asked if I'd help...or be involved...or something. I was surprised...honored, really. I'm this short, chubby older lady. Weird really.
And I said, "Yes." Because it was Allison. She's one of the Christians who has an authentic heart, an honest spirit, and a strong faith...and it shows. She doesn't know this, but if she asked me to help with just about anything, I'd say yes again. --- Now really, I did very, very little with this, and I felt kind of like the oddball. Not young, not hip, not a forever "I so get it and work hard to walk the walk" kind of Christian in the sense of the word that I think of all the other women involved. But I did a couple things. Because IF:Boston was a vision of Allison's and when someone like her has a vision, people should get behind it...get behind them... ESPECIALLY when God is in the mix and leading the visionary. Allison was led. No question.

One Thousand Gifts was a life changer. For me and for my BFF. If you haven't read it, don't, unless you're ready to be impacted and want to be challenged.  But if you want to be, do work at it. It's hard.
Ann Voscamp , the author, is involved with IF...and a speaker. I needed to hear her. Was she real?

So, I did it...and dragged a few people along with me, because if Allison was being led and Ann was speaking...then the rest of the event was going to be loaded with God. And hey, speakers are always good to learn from...when they don't have to talk for too long each. I believe those who came with me found truths that they could attach themselves to.And who knew? Perhaps God had a message for me.

So I continue on. Because He did have a message...and I continue to try really hard to listen.

Voscamp keeps writing to inspire... I read her blog daily. And I'm touched daily by her not-prose-not-poetry writing-that-speaks.  Try her on for size if you haven't already. Today's struck a chord. But don't read her if you want superficial, because she simply isn't that.

 Allison hasn't asked me to do anything lately, but I was really glad that she did and that I couldn't say no.
I hope you have someone whom you can't say no to and who gets you to do things outside your comfort zone, because wow!, when you are still thinking about it almost 4 months later, it's amazing.