Overwhelmed (A Retrospective Post)

This blog is definitely going to be about the here and now in addition to the future. However, I do have numerous creative works that I have already completed over the years, which I also want to share. So, some of my entries will be what you might define as an "archive". I'm very keen on this idea because it might ultimately help me bring organize my creations better (and this is a great thing for me who can sometimes be the scattered type).

This written work came to me while I was at my church's 2009 Women's Retreat. The theme was "Overwhelmed: Extreme Worship". On the last morning of the retreat, I had decided that I REALLY needed to decompress and pull myself away from the "social" aspect of the retreat long enough to spend some much needed time with God. I began by going up the "Worship Experience" venue, which had been lovingly created by a truly gifted (and totally amazing) friend of mine. She had created worship stations... each one set up to specifically encourage different ways to look at God and spend time in His presence. As I stepped through each station, I was able to completely block out everything else and direct myself towards the singular focus of communing, meditating, praising, and absorbing my Creator. I asked for Him to speak to me, and from my experience, I penned this poem:

Overwhelmed

I sit in still silence
while your waves pulse a rhythm against the shore

I sit in still silence
while your breeze brings music to the trees

I sit in still silence
while your creation fills my senses

Overwhelmed
I feel a warmth growing within my heart;
A presence so strong—I’m ready to burst
Overwhelmed

I feel as if I should speak,
but the words are trapped in my throat
Overwhelmed

I sit in still silence
while your sun beams breakthrough the darkness

Filled with overwhelming love

Filled with overwhelming acceptance

Filled with overwhelming peace

Your daughter and sister in Christ delivered and set free!

Coming from a society where we typically use the term "overwhelmed" when referring to something that is "more than what we can handle", I completely LOVE the notion of being OVERWHELMED (still using the definition of: more than what I can handle) with the omnipotent presence of God! Isn't it interesting that the same word (with the same meaning) applied to a different subject, focus, or context can become such a positive thing?! I certainly think so and praise God for blessing me with the opportunity to see and know it. "Oh, most Holy God, bringer of Light, Life, and Love, I praise your name! I truly am awed by your greatness and the beauty of your creations. Please let me use what you have given me to its fullest potential so that I may expand Your Kingdom and inspire others to follow you too. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

The Plunge

As I take my first plunge into the Blogging World,
let me begin by welcoming you to: My Swirly World

My naming of this site comes from my love of SWIRLS! Then, I pinged a few girl friends, who helped me settle on the final name (thanks peeps). Overtime, as I build out this site, you will see my love of swirls more clearly revealed. I have a lot of reasons for liking this symbol, shape, object (or whatever you want to call it) and that too will be revealed as I grow my blog. For now, the thing to know is... I am Swirly Girly and this is.... My Swirly World.

I dreamt of building this site last night... I mean literally... it was almost torturous because the detail of the dream was so vivid. Actually, I get this A LOT... (the vivid dreams part)... seeing as how we spend 1/3 of our lives asleep, I firmly believe that meaningful ideas can come from this time. As God sees fit, I want to harness my waking and sleeping muses, notions, blessings, and light into the works and efforts that He leads me to create.

Interestingly enough, I have for quite some time struggled with the digital blogging world... it seemed like a way for people to artificially satisfy their innate need to socialize. My concern was that people would become introverted and reclusive as a result. But I see things differently now... now the notion of blogging has my nerves buzzing with delight... I can hardly contain myself (and no... this is not my ADHD getting the best of me). What I see now is a place for me to organize, house, and share my creative efforts and work... this will be my place for creative accountability. In fact, my blog will allow me to outwardly express what has been for the most part my extremely introverted and reclusive creative existence... the exact opposite of what I had feared... imagine that!

In Faith and Harmony ~ Swirly Girly