I walked into Bible Study smiling. I so enjoy this hour of rich girlfriend and God time.

Crossing the threshold into the room where we meet, one of my classmates approached me. “Van, Barbara wants to talk to you. She found the Proverbs 31 Ministries web site, has read some of your devotionals – we didn’t know you were a writer!”

I found myself thinking, “ I don’t consider myself a writer either. Yet, I have been given this awesome opportunity to journey with a group of ladies who have led me along, so why not give it my all – especially when I get to reach out to women and touch their hearts.”

So- when Barbara arrived she immediately asked if we could get together. Right away I knew I loved Barbara. She stepped out of her comfort zone to meet me. She honored me by giving me some credit, even though she didn’t know me. This encouraged me and built my esteem. She was being a friend before ever becoming a friend.

Right then and there we decided to extend our Bible study and meet afterwards at the local coffee shop.

Strange thing – before 8:30 Tuesday morning, we were strangers. Then we sat down across the table from each other and began to talk… She wanted to know about writing. I am not a writing specialist, but I know people who are highly accomplished and I have sat at their feet, learning more than I could ever keep tucked away for my own benefit. So I began to tell what all I had learned. She pulled out her little notebook and began to write.

Every once in a while we got off on bunny trails (real girlfriends do that, you know), but we always came back to a subject we both feel God is calling us to pursue. Writing.

Last night one of my pastors asked me about writing. I told him I was a very unlikely writer. It is not within my personality. I did tell him, though that sitting still to contemplate and meditate is very challenging for me. Writing has been a gift I recently opened. Whenever I turn to writing, I find myself at peace. I listen for wise words. I apply the thoughts I have to my life. These, thoughts can only come to me when I sit still to ponder and question life. And then I put those thoughts on paper and my life begins to make sense.

I think I shared this with my new friend Barbara some time on Tuesday morning. After hearing a bit about her story, I hope she will put her words on paper for all the world to see. I think she has been listening to great wisdom.

When we looked at the time – Oh my goodness NOON!

We decided to condense our conversation. This is what we agreed upon:
Pray for confidence.
Choose an area of passion.
Create an outline that best represents a personal voice.
Begin writing.

Life in general is no different. We don’t all have to be writer wanna be’s to live by the above goals. Don’t we all want confidence to pursue our passion? Aren’t we all seeking that place where we can best work out our purpose? Isn’t every day a new beginning?

So I am wondering what keeps me from doing what I want to do?

What do you want to do? What is your dream? Do you have a “bucket list?”

(BUCKET LIST – is a recent movie release about two men who lean they have terminal cancer. They make a list of things you want to accomplish in life before you move on. The movie is about their adventures together as they celebrate the few months they have left to live.)

I want to fill my life with friends, interesting people, others’ stories, and hours filled with talking and listening…

What is in your bucket list?