Trying Something New:

I have always been a hobby person, a hobbyist.  I like to do different things in my past.  I have not always been the best at sitting quietly, not doing much of anything.  This has sometimes led me to being too busy.  I have always liked to sing and be in a choir.  I have loved and enjoyed working out or exercising, particularly running and biking.  I have also always loved doing crafts, making cards and painting.  (I really love crafting classes as well).  Then lastly, of course, I have always loved to read books. As I have gotten older, I have also discovered my love of writing and blogging.  This blog gives and fills me with great joy week after week.  

These past few years, I have been finding some new hobbies and loves, and the family members around me have also found some things to love and do in their free time as well.  My mom and I both have tried ice skating.  We went ice skating in Branson, MO and we thought it was the most fun.  Since then, we have gotten to do some practicing on our own and are now either taking or about to take lessons.  Cole has gotten incredibly good at playing Pokémon in the past year and a half and has competed in many different tournaments where he has either won or has gotten high placing. He has taught me and now I have been slowly learning and competing myself.  Then lastly, I have had a growing interest in learning how to sew as well as have a desire to learn how to do baking and cake decorating.  

I am incredibly proud of those family members.  I am very happy and proud of my mom choosing to do an ice skating class.  She did mention to me that she was definitely the oldest person to be trying these lessons, but I am so proud of her for being brave and learning to try something new even though she may be older than the other participants.  I am also incredibly proud of Cole and how he has done in Pokémon.  I am also so glad we have found some friends through participating in it as well.  

I think there are many times people believe they can’t try something once they get to a certain age.  They may believe they are just too old to try something new, and this just isn’t the case at all.  Not only do I have the examples in my life I just mentioned, but I have been seeing a lot of people online who chose later in life to learn how to make and decorate sugar cookies, and they have gotten really good at it, or others who have slowly gotten into the game of Pickleball and compete in leagues.  

I also love when I was a teacher and a coach to see my students try something that scares them.  It fills me with complete joy when I see students try something they never thought they could have done before.  I have had the opportunity to see students go out for the sport of cross country who had never tried running before.  We had a girl and boy in seventh grade who went out this last year and made incredible strides and improvements throughout the season. I am so glad they went out and have had a good time competing amongst the others. 

I do believe hobbies and these interests can be a good guiding tool for our spiritual walk.  Yes, we can share the Gospel while at work.  This is a great place.  However, there are barriers to this.  Sometimes people are stressed or they are overworked and don’t have much time for a deep conversation.  There are times when they may be having to talk to other people at work leaving gaps in conversation about the Gospel when it is brought up.  Hobbies and these fun activities open us up to more people and more conversations we can be having with others about Jesus and about the Gospel.  

There is a verse in the Bible about creation and making a way in the wilderness and I think it can relate to the ideas of trying something new.  When we go out and learn something, we can open ourselves up to a new way of relating and being with people.  We have a new way to create and to be challenged.  This verse is Isaiah 43:19 which says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” 

The challenge for you this week is to spend time thinking about something you can try in the near future.  Is there anything you have seen others do and you want to be able to maybe join them in their community?  I know Cole and I have done some pickleball, but we haven’t found much time to dedicate to it.  I am hoping this spring/summer, we will be able to find some time to exercise in this way.  I challenge you this week to go out and try whatever it is you are most curious about. If it is something more seasonal and it isn’t that season, I challenge you to make some plans to try it when this particular season comes around.