When I can’t fit my thoughts in my regular newsletter, I come here to ramble, sometimes even eloquently. As a jack-of-all-trades type, the topics vary greatly. You’ll find stories behind my paintings, short stories and essays on anything from agriculture to intentional living to cultural issues. If you don’t like one post, maybe don’t give up until you’ve tasted a few.
Often, I’m mentally chewing on some big things and just want to send my thoughts out to the void, secretly hoping for some solidarity.
Always, I strive to filter these thoughts through a sieve built with love.
Thoughts, updates, stories…
With Love, Elli
On FOMO and Curating
For me, though I need to use better discernment regarding how much time I spend hiking, gardening, painting, writing and marketing, the former (enjoying nature) fuels the latter. They all (except marketing, which I would happily delegate along with the cooking) feed my tank for loving my family and others that God brings along. I think it’s important to create sacred rhythms (habits with flexibility) that are continually restoring our should for beautiful things, both work and play.
Why I’m here.
Anyways, now that we’re smiling, I’d just like us to consider a couple of things. Nearly everything I do is based on the belief (and driving passion) that we are made to live beautiful, extraordinary lives. You, me, the guy down the street - everyone. I thought maybe we could unpack that vision real quick, so you know what to expect here.
…
When I say extraordinary, I think many people would look at that life and think that’s not normal, because of course it’s not ordinary. I see a life that causes ripples. I imagine great joy at a job well done. I can feel the satisfaction of knowing I was made for this. I’m serious. Even those of you who are more realistic than I, doesn’t something about that seem amazing?
It’s also a life that follows the Father’s leading so true that people don’t always understand, a life that might go against the current. That job well done might cost more that I ever imagined, but the joy is still greater for having done it. It requires knowing that whether the task seems menial or grand, God prepared the work for me before hand and I can compete it with contentment, peace and humility.