Journey: a traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long time; trip: a six-day journey across the desert.
VII.XXX.MMVI
My name is Shawn Bailey and the beautiful woman in the white dress is
my wife. Her name is Rhonda but I call her Ronnie (much to the chagrin
of many of her friends...they call her "Ro"). This is my favorite picture of my wife with her step-father, of 20 years, on our wedding day. She is as easy going as her smile and she is one of the kindest people I have ever met. Her smile says everything.
Why I write...
Endless Journey
Wonderfully, we don't get to choose our journeys. They often choose us.
And when my lonely walk down a dirt path began I was praying and wondering aloud what God's plan and purpose was for me.
"What do you want me to do God", I prayed.
What now?
I prayed that same prayer for a few days last March, sitting in meditation waiting, wanting and longing for God to speak to my heart. And He did.
He said write.
I
know many of you reading this right now find it hard to believe that God
would actually tell anyone to write or to do anything for that matter.
And I'm sure you really don't believe that he spoke to me. I get it. And as many of you ponder my words I'm without little doubt that more than a few eyes are rolling.
Start searching... keep searching
(Art Image by Houk)
(Art Image by Houk)
Like I said. I get it.
But this is more than a story; it's the truth.
Over and over I would hear in my silence the word write.
There
was no audible voice pur se; it was just a continual wave of urges that
wouldn't allow me to separate myself from the constant thought or
internal nudging to write.
"What do you want me to write", I said impatiently.
"I can't write a novel or book... I have no idea where to even begin."
"Just write", He said.
So write I did.
Every day is brand new...
(Art Image by Houk)
Just like "Run Forrest Run" I began to "Write Shawn Write"
And write I did.
In the past year I have written roughly 101,111 words and 120 pieces on mybabyr0c.
I've touched upon everything from the great Jackie Robinson to the top ten Michael Jackson songs (the top 5 when he was black and the top 5 when he was white) of all-time. I have researched, and written, about superheroes, and the virtues they embody, and the reasons for men and children becoming angry. I have shared with my readers that my son Ryan met Picasso at McDonald's and that another one of my boys, Bryce, never wet to bed when he was young because as he stated: "the pee stayed in his underwear.
"I even wrote about LeBron James.
And write I did.
In the past year I have written roughly 101,111 words and 120 pieces on mybabyr0c.
I've touched upon everything from the great Jackie Robinson to the top ten Michael Jackson songs (the top 5 when he was black and the top 5 when he was white) of all-time. I have researched, and written, about superheroes, and the virtues they embody, and the reasons for men and children becoming angry. I have shared with my readers that my son Ryan met Picasso at McDonald's and that another one of my boys, Bryce, never wet to bed when he was young because as he stated: "the pee stayed in his underwear.
"I even wrote about LeBron James.
Daydreamer
All of the pieces were written with complete sincerity and transparency with the goal in mind of developing an authentic voice.
I have shared my thoughts, opinions and beliefs valuing the importance of not coming off as an obnoxious know it all do gooder.
I hope I was able to accomplish that.
The writings were the beginning of a journey in which God enabled me to create mybabyr0c;
a journey, and a journal, that has created significant growth in my
life, and out of that growth I've been encouraged beyond belief.
I hope others have been encouraged too.
The Journey
During this past year of written communication I have realized that I love Lenny Kravitz
and his talent more than I thought I did, and while growing in that
realization I wondered aloud more than a few times why I can't be as
cool or good-looking as he. I grasp the fact that I don't need to drink
orange soda everyday and that I don't have to hate anyone under any
circumstance just because they hate me or because they have hurt me.
I still believe that Sting is insanely talented and
that he will always be my favorite artist until I die; also I've come to
find out that pure silence and quietness that can surround ones
thoughts, dreams and hopes is the best sound that I have ever heard.
Silence isn't only golden, it's purposeful and meaningful.
In the past twelve months I have intimately become aware that my wife is greater than I first thought and that having a family is a blessing; not a burden.
I have grown in the fact that inviting God into my daily activities
each morning, and thanking him for being responsive to my plea at the
end of the day, is the single best thing I can do each day.
Grow where you're planted... if you do you
just might bloom there too.
Finally, I recognize that I'm more blessed to have my children as my children
than they are to have me as their father and that my parents are the
smartest people I know. I have also become more conscious of the fact
that I have more questions than I do answers and that all of my
questions have one answer... the same answer... God, and that
writing my thoughts down has better prepared me to discuss what I
believe and why I believe, all the while enabling me to fulfill God's
command in 1 Peter 3:15-17:
15 But in your hearts
revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone
who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this
with gentleness and respect, 16
keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against
your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
In the end, I've come to believe that James Taylor's song Fire & Rain and Celebrate Me Home
by Kenny Loggins to be two of the best songs ever recorded and that
during my journey I have noticed that I'm not an expert on marriage,
parenthood, friendship, love, on doing the right thing, character, the
bible or anything, but that I'm only an expert on me and me only.
I know me better than anyone else except for God.
And I know if God can transform my life he can transform anyone's life.
This I do know.
My journey thus far has shown me that.
Begin your journey...
sbb 25.3.2011
1116
102,227
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment