Renewal by Design
By: White Dove
Renewal, for me, happens when I enter the unknown. For me, it’s “renewal by design” as I intentionally trade the safe route for the unknown.
One early spring-like day, I was on my first “dot-dot-dot” road, which means sometimes there’s a path and sometimes not. The map uses dots to warn you the road will be invisible much of the time.
You’re in the middle of nowhere. You can’t hear traffic, no airplanes flying overhead, and not a sound except insects, once you shut off the motor.
Uncharted. Wild. Free.
Many of us are in the dot-dot-dot lanes of life, as the winds, floods, and fires sculpt the inner terrain of our souls. You may have lost everything, as I did. It’s where the road suddenly ended.
Some of us have ventured off the chart and we’re pioneering in the wild, untamed atmosphere of change. Like my friend, Esther, whose family moved from Boston and is living in a yurt on a mountain in Idaho… not to escape, but to FIND their BEST LIFE.
We write our stories because we discover where we came from and gain the courage to explore the gap between Now and Wonderful. I call this renewal by design.
Can there be good coming from the great life interruptions?
More and more of us are shaking off the dust of the broken foundations we built our lives upon and emerging into the dawn of a new age… the age of microentrepreneurs and the need for creative people to take leadership who are accustomed to the uncharted path!
These are some of the thoughts I’ve been pondering during my time on the dot-dot-dot paths.
Losing it all and starting over again, perhaps, isn’t so bad…. because renewal by design means living my best life, not the life demanded of me.
How about you? Do you need a new story? A new love story? A new money story? A new career story? Or perhaps a whole overhaul, like I did?
You might consider “renewal by design” as you intentionally get off the charted path. Don’t wait for disaster to hit. Explore the unknown. Write your story with intentionality. Live from your passion and purpose. Remember, great beauty and good can arise from the ashes of tragedy and trauma. Expect great things to happen!
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Writing prompt: Using 500-1000 words, describe your post-trauma world. Imagine how you are arising from those ashes, with gratitude.
If you hadn’t lost everything you would still be stuck in _____ and doing ____. Write about the benefits of waking up. Take it a bit further than you feel comfortable. Get off the chart. Create a new path for your life.
Where do you want to be? What do you see yourself doing? If your vision isn’t yet clear, maybe this post will help you to define your goals. In the meantime, have fun with this writing prompt and don’t worry if it changes again and again as you shed the scales of old world thinking and begin to see yourself and the world more clearly!
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With all my love,
White Dove
Hi, I’m White Dove. Yes, it’s my pen name, and it was given to me by a blind man who shyly whispered it to me in a Divine encounter. Yes, it’s my real picture… just an ordinary selfie.
I live with my family in the mountains, surrounded by ancient forests, pure streams, and mighty rivers… but I also travel quite a bit.
My kingdom career is a Heart Scribe. I love to write from God’s heart and have been recording His living Word for the past three decades. It’s brought me so much beauty, joy, peace, and happiness!
I love to inspire trauma survivors to write their life stories, unearthing the treasures of their past and sowing them into the future. We dip our pens in blood and write the pain away… as God has shown me how to do, in the company of supportive friends and family. We are writing ourselves into a better world, beginning with discovering our own original design recorded in the DNA of our soul, and it’s the most exciting place to be!
Copyright © 2018 Heart Scribes, All rights reserved. For reprint permission or for any private or commercial use, in any form of media, please contact me.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
There is nothing better than the great outdoors. I think its hard to "Be still and know that I am God" when you live in a busy, noisey city. But when you get out to into the middle of nowhere you are more likely to experience "being still". It's a great reason to live in New Zealand, there's lots of "middle-of-nowhere".
New Zealand, I have always wanted to experience that land of peace and country living! Thanks for visiting, Phil 🙂
I find that getting outside and enjoying nature and the beauty around me always refreshes me and makes me feel better! It gets me out of my routine and makes me feel closer and more in-tune with God. Life is full of twists and turns – you never know where God is leading you next on your journey. Have a blessed week Susan!
You glow with health, Sue, and from the pictures I’ve seen of your family, they are shining with good health, too! What a blessed family is yours… so much wisdom and truth in you! I’m glad we are blogging friends! 🙂
We all need a break-out from our Home environment at times. Different air, different quietness and different hustle and bustle. It helps us to realize that we ought not to be conformed to this world , but transformed by the renewing of our mind. Thanks for this post Susan.
I totally agree with you, Gertraud…. even now, I’m considering a trip to Michigan… changing our environment really helps to keep us sharp! Thanks for visiting, Gertraud 🙂
Loved your adventure story. Sometimes I wish I could just up and go. Sadly, reality pulls me back down into the life I've created. Maybe it's time to create a new life!
Thanks!
Hi Linda,
I can’t “up and go” all the time either – but every once in awhile it’s life-transformation just to get out, even if it’s only a place right in town, not far away. I hope you get the chance to create some time and space to get out and enjoy yourself!!!
I can very much relate to this as I have lost (at the time, I thought I had lost everything) and traveled an amazing journey of healing, hope, and happiness – a journey I never want to end.
I love lyrical way in which you write.
Peggy
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Peggy Nolan
http://thestepmomstoolbox.com
Peggy,
I’d love to hear more about your amazing journey, one day… thanks so much for reading and for sharing part of your story!
Thanks for sharing part of your story! Mine is on a great path so far. And I that it's in good Hands!
Hi Marya,
To enjoy your path is a great blessing, indeed! Thanks so much for visiting and sharing 🙂
I find my best thinking and relaxing is also done in the middle of no-where outdoors. I live in a huge city right now, and I try to take every opportunity I can to lose myself in the quiet of parks and camping trips when time and budget allow.
Hi Sarah,
I’m right with you! I lived for 20-years in Chicagoland and the nature preserves really helped to bring me into balance! Thanks so much for reading and sharing! 🙂
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