The Spontaneity Project

        Last week, I was invited to participate in a surprise for a dear girl's 18th birthday. Her sweet best friend was organizing a video shoot for a video set to "Celebration." After some major logistics stressing (How to get everyone from church without tipping off the birthday girl, and ensuring we had enough seat belts), we were underway. The "director" had gathered large cut-out letters spelling the birthday girl's name, a giant 1 and 8, 18 blank posters to create "18 Reasons to Celebrate You",  14 teenagers, and me. The plan was fairly simple - use the signs, one at a time, to show her why we all love her, while general craziness and shenanigans commenced in the background. (So business as usual.) Our "director" planned to make a DVD with the video and give it to the birthday girl as her present. Ok. Sounds good. I can handle that. There was not really a set time to be done, but I figured I could run a few errands after and still get home to cook dinner. Not so much, but it proved to be so worth it.

Hanging out while the others filmed

 Pretty quickly, the plan began to change. We needed to include the birthday girl in our fun once the surprise video was done. After all, what is the point of having basically a party (because that's what happens when these guys all get together) for the birthday girl without her? It would be more fun to be with her! So a new plan began to take place: finish the video quickly, bake cupcakes, and go over to her house to surprise her. But it wasn't that easy to create and enact the plan. Grocery runs had to be made, the camera had to be charged, and other logistics had to be worked out. It was quite the exercise in spontaneity for me! And you know, I am not very spontaneous. :)

Another challenge for me is knowing when to just hang out and be one of the group and when to do the things I see that need doing. Not a new problem for me, but a little worse since I am technically an adult, and therefore feel like I should act like one occasionally. But I decided to just let the "director" be in charge, and do what I was asked/told, and offer my opinion when asked. When the camera needed to charge and we needed to bake cupcakes, I volunteered to help. When the camera was ready before the cupcakes were and someone needed to stay in and finish the baking, I agreed to stay. It really wasn't a big deal. Then I guess my normal instincts kicked in, because next thing I know I'm washing dishes and cleaning up our baking mess. (Hey, it needed to be done!) At some point, the others came back inside, and caught me cleaning while waiting on the cupcakes. It wasn't like I could have gone outside with them right then but they fussed at me anyway, telling me I didn't have to wash the dishes, etc. Then one of them threw Jesus's words to Martha at me. It was so funny, because I'm so Martha. But it is insanely difficult to walk away when things need to be done. And I wasn't telling any of them to help me, like Martha did to Mary. But it was sweet anyway. So I set my baking aside, went out and danced around with my sign, and had a great time.

Filming

       After we finished the video, we iced the cupcakes, packed up and headed over to the birthday girl's house. It worked like a charm - she was so surprised. Her family had helped orchestrate the reveal, and it was really cool to be a part of. Since I struggle with being spontaneous, and that's basically all yesterday was, it was not the easiest balancing act of my life. But being an adult is all about doing the difficult things, right? Like jumping around the backyard dancing like a fool, hiding behind the shrubs to jump out and shout "Surprise!" and eating cupcakes. It's hard work, but someone has to do it. :)

Some of the group

       And it was well worth it. Memories were made, people were blessed, and it was a lot of fun! I really loved getting to be a part of a special birthday memory for her. And I wasn't the only one who had to be spontaneous. The others had plans and commitments they had to change as well. But to my knowledge, they didn't think a thing about it. Because that's what friendship does. It gives up time and sleep to make someone's day. So even though I'm supposed to be the "adult" they taught me a thing or two. And who knows? I may have to become more spontaneous as a rule. I'll put it on my to-do list.

Long Time, No Write

February 18, 2014

          I realize it's been a really long time since I posted a blog. 3 months is too long! The problem is, my whole point for this blog is to slow down and notice the important things in life. I haven't been doing that. At least not long enough to finish a complete thought. Several times over the last 3 months, I'll think, "Ooh. What a great thought! I should write that down!" But do I? Nope. Then, I may actually have a few minutes to write, but have nothing to say because I've been to busy!

          Ironically, it was at a youth conference (Winterfest) last weekend that I realized my problem. I didn't have any more time than usual that weekend. Well, ok, yes I did, but mostly because I slept a lot less (8 hours total over the weekend - am I crazy?) but that's beside the point. No, I think it's becauseI got just far enough away and off my normal routine that I had time to think. And probably the Holy Spirit's nudging. I realized something on that trip: I wasn't just neglecting my blog. There are several things I'd allowed myself to be "too busy for" including quality quiet time. And I've know this, somehow this weekend the pieces clicked together.

          And I realized: a lot of the time my blog posts are the result of quiet time. Once I actually stop long enough to think and process life, not just today and tomorrow's problems, the wheels start turning and won't stop. I kept thinking, "I should blog. But no, I need quiet time more. I need to find time for that first!" But then I didn't do either. Now I realize the two are connected. Just like becoming a better person/getting your life together and getting closer to Jesus. You don't do one first. They happen together.

       So I'm sorry. I'm sorry I have let myself get so caught up in the busyness that I ignore my own advice. I don't dare promise that I will get it all together, but I will try. If we keep waiting to take the first step, we go nowhere.