Keep It Simple - Do the Next Thing

 Keep It Simple—Do The Next Thing

Anyone who knows me knows that I consider myself an introvert. Not because I don’t like being around people or that my lifelong dream is to be some kind of hermit, but because these Ashlee Batteries are charged in calm, quiet places (often involving some hot drink made from magical beans, but that’s neither here nor there...).

In Isaiah 30, God tells His “obstinate children” (you know, the Isrealites) that they’re looking for safety and identity in all the wrong places and in verse 15 (NIV) reminds them that “in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength...”

In the quiet place it is easy to hear my own thoughts and worries, much easier than in the midst of weekday Mommy-Duty and church office bustle. I know I’m not the only one who experiences this thinking. Honestly, how many times have you asked yourself “is this where I am supposed to be?” or sometimes maybe you’ve had a little deeper and more personal thought like “I just want to know that my what I’m doing makes a difference.”

You know what else is easier to hear in the quiet place (at least as soon as I get my own self out of the way)? Yeah, you do know. I know you know. I know you know as well as I do that the stillness is where we find the voice of our Creator, our Guiding Light, the Ultimate Direction Giver (I made that last one up myself, and I kind of like it). The quiet place is where He knows you will hear.

Recently, a musical group called Disturbed has taken one of my all-time favorite Simon & Garfunkel songs, Sound of Silence, and gave it new life. The song itself has a pretty powerful message, but the remaster has made it relevant to a new generation and given it that much more power. We’re all guilty of “talking without speaking” and, maybe especially, of “hearing without listening.” I would encourage you all, if you haven’t already heard it, to find it on YouTube (here's the link: https://youtu.be/u9Dg-g7t2l4) or from wherever you get your music and give it a listen. You can even stop me wherever we may run into each other and I will share it with you from my phone!

I have heard God many times (and even listened!) but often have been guilty of being more like Jonah instead of Jesus in that I’m afraid to leave what I know in order to do God’s work where I am called instead of being open to God’s will, regardless of what it looks like. For a long time now, God has been calling me to do His work in my home, with my family and I have foolishly rebelled, assuming that my family would better be served by me having a paycheck. I foolishly convinced myself that since that paycheck came from my church and my service was to Him and my church family that it was close enough to my calling. I was wrong on both accounts, and probably many more. This selfishness on my part also prevented Epworth from being served by whoever actually IS being called to serve here.

After listening (for real!) to the Ultimate Direction Giver (I still think it fits....) and my own personal desires to focus on my family, including the incoming Christmas(ish) baby girl, it is time I leave the part-time office chair for the full-time nursery rocker.

My last day in the office is October 18th. This DOES NOT mean that we will leave the church. On the contrary, this will allow for me to get involved in other ways to which I have been unable to commit. You all are our family and we love you.

Church, our Pastor and Staff Parish Relations Committee are working diligently to find the perfect fit for Epworth so that our office will run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Keep them and the process in your prayers!

(If you think that you might be a perfect fit, or maybe you know someone you think would be, then by all means turn in a resume!)