So, the question has been how much to share...
how 'aloof' and 'professional' to remain in a 'public arena'...
how much 'spin' to put on massive business changes...
what to reveal and what to hide about the reality of our lives...
and whether or not to mention anything at all
when it's NOT all happyhappyjoyjoyland around here.
All questions we've had, discussed, and been 'advised' on over the past three months. Often after the fact, mind you, but all coming from our hearts as we face each day.
Many people just don't say anything about anything that is going on with them.{I think Thoreau called that
'Living Lives of Quiet Desperation'.} Others make up happy stuff and stay busy to hide the real stuff from view.We heard from both of those kinds of people about the stuff we've chosen to share on our blogs & facebook Pages during the past few months. It wasn't all good, btw. Got an earful a few times from people who think we've trashed our business by saying anything at all about difficulties. OK, so that's how they see it. Fine.
You know, to us, it all comes down to this:
Either we are who we are, and we act that way,
or we are something else entirely - and we hide that fact from everyone.
Yeah, well, those of you who know us at all can see why
option A was really the only choice for us.
So, as we've been on this rollercoaster ride of life lately, we've not only shared the ups - but the downs. Not only shown you the happy 'Show Face' that we put on during an event, but the real behind-the-scenes faces of two people working incredibly hard to build their dream and live the life they have chosen and how much it all means to us. We've admitted that at times, it's been more than we could handle, and asked for your prayers, thoughts, and positive intentions on our behalf. We've managed to set aside all of the pride and posturing and 'positioning' that some think is necessary to support an 'image' in business. Instead, we've been transparent with our friends, family, customers, readers, and 'fans', letting them into our hearts - more than just into our shows or booths or websites.
Most importantly,
we've looked at what we do, why we do it, and how we do it,
and let one very obvious fact guide it all:
God
gave us this dream, this vision, this goal.
He also
gave us the ability, talent, experience and passion to actually DO what we do.
He
gave us some wonderful friends, customers, and a community of vintage enthusiasts who DO care about us, and each other.
And He is the one who
gives us direction - who paves the road in front of us, making it possible for us to keep doing this every day. Even when we don't get it, or see it, or understand it {or can admit it}, He's in control.
And so, if God Almighty chooses to use
our voices - blog - web site - facebook Page - et cetera to bring attention and Glory to His name, well then, we aren't going to complain.
Or shut up, get over it, DEAL, or make up something 'happy' to focus on.
Honestly, if it bothers you to read about people's struggles, don't.
But that doesn't mean we can't share them on our own blog.
Because there is no way we could have come through what we have been through without the miracles that God has brought to us along the way... friends, family, and people we barely know have stepped up to help, to pray, to support us through this dark night of our souls.
They would never have known that we needed help if we hadn't spoken up and told our story.
{Melody wrote a great post about
this very thing HERE.
Go read it. No, really.... I'll wait.....}
We had to be honest and transparent and humbled in order to get the help we needed.We had to sit aside our own pride, and ASK for help. And be real. In so doing, we found remarkable people came to our aid. When you've spent years of your life in service to others, as we have, it's hard to get to that place. It's humbling and sometimes almost painful to ask others to do for you what you can't do for yourself at the time. It was
really hard for Bob to let other guys work with me on our farm, getting ready for Petite Retreat in September.... while he sat in a chair and watched. It was hard for
me to let my dad and mom sell our products at Remnants, when I needed a break because my voice was gone.
But letting others step up and help us
transformed us, and made us ever more passionate about helping others even more as we go forward with our business plan. It's not about money. It's not about followers or fans or likes or published articles. It's not about positioning or strategy or brand image. It's about community, friends, and helping one another. It's about getting REAL with ourselves, with you, with God.
The best part about all of this?
That so many of you have sent us emails, comments, and left comments here on our blog, to say that our faith has touched you. That our journey has resonated with you and that you are looking at things differently now. Or that we have encouraged you through our words. {Let me tell ya, folks, encouraging someone else is not at ALL what I thought would come out of this mess. I was wondering if we'd have even one single blog reader left by the time we could report
any good news from these parts!}
But God always has a plan...
So wherever YOU are, whatever you are in the midst of, just hang on.
Grab faith like it's the mane of a horse going sixty down the track to keep yourself from falling off. Hang on to hope like the knot in the end of your proverbial rope. And call out to God for strength, for clarity, for peace so that you can hear Him. And if you are worried about how it's gonna' look to your friends, customers, fans, etc. that you admit that you are {GASP}
not perfect or
in control... well.... just do it anyway. Be honest. Be
you, just as He intends you to be. God will use it for His glory, and for your best. He really
will.
We can't wait to share all that has changed, all that is ahead, as soon as we can.
He's given Retreat a whole NEW meaning... ;0)
