Good morning, ladies. I'm starting off with some touting today. This book, Storm Siren,  was written by my very first mentoring client and has just been released this month. Not only is the novel awesome but so is Mary Weber, the author. In fact, she's so awesome that I'm trying to persuade her to write a guest post for us. Until that happens, you can get to know her through this really fine book, which is number one in a trilogy. Good story for curling up with on a weekend when you've had it with studying.

I also have an invitation for you ... well, a question, actually. I'm so impressed with the depth of your comments -- and of course the intensity of thought and feeling that gives rise to them -- and it came to me that one of our old live, on-line blog parties would be a good thing for us.  Not the kind with the food contests  -- perhaps less a party than a gathering, as if we were getting together at Starbucks to talk about all this stuff. 

The questions are -- and I naturally want totally honest answers --

        * is that something you'd be interested in?

        * do you have time (we're talking maybe an hour, hour and a half)?

        * what would BE a good time (weekend, weeknight, middle of the night ...)?

If that's not something you want to do or you don't see how you can squeeze it into your schedule, you absolutely will not hurt my feelings. I just wanted to make the offer. Let me know.

Back to what you've been talking about -- your responses to "Swimming in Mediocrity." You said everything from, 'No, I'm on a spiritual high right now,' to 'I don't see how I won't be stuck in mediocrity in the future.' I think you, KATE pretty much nailed it when you said:

"I feel more like I'm swimming in life, trying to stay afloat."

That's it right there. That's what living is about -- getting in however you can (I've never been a dive-head-first-into-freezing-water kinda gal myself) and staying in. Maybe -- and this just came to me -- mediocrity is sitting on the side of the pool or hanging out on the beach and never actually getting in the water.

    Never battling the waves.

    Never getting salt water in your eyes.

    Never taking a chance in the deep end.

    Never getting splashed.

    Never seeing if you can hold your breath from one end of the pool to the other.

    Never floating, treading, or all-out bookin' it.

    Never being able to say, "This feels so GOOD!"

My own experience has shown that there's a plan. I also know we seldom recognize what the plan WAS until we look back on it. Yet even with the tiniest bit of faith and trust we're shown the way. 

What do you think? Does this metaphor work for you?

    *  Where are you  -- in the kiddy pool, the Olypmic one, a calm lake, the wind-tossed ocean? 

    * What's hindering you?

    * What's keeping you afloat?

  I think the story from Matthew (14:22-33) is incredibly applicable here.  You'll want to read it when you can, but basically the disciples are out on a boat in a storm (they're about to start swimming in life!) and Jesus walks to them on the water. Help is there -- and they freak out. 'Oh, my gosh, it's a ghost, we're all gonna die.' When Jesus says, in essence, "No, you nutbars, it's me,' Peter says, 'Ask me to come to you.' Jesus does. Peter takes off across the water ... and then he panics. He's out of control and even though Jesus has this handled, he's like, 'Wait, this is impossible, I'm gonna drown!'

Note that Jesus doesn' say, "Oh, for crying out loud, don't be a wuss. If you can't have total faith in me, we're done. Go back to your day job."

Just sayin'.

Okay, so thoughts? Questions? Concerns?

You're fabulous young women. Don't forget that.

Blessings,

Nancy Rue