inspiration for all dancers [& human beings].

Diligence in the Pursuit

As a student, I have always excelled academically - I’m a speed-reader, have quick comprehension, great memory, I like research, have a knack for finding solutions to problems, and I’m a good test taker. Most things in school came very easily to me once I spent a short amount of time with them. Recently, I have found myself in situations where I have had to invest more time studying and preparing for things – something that I am not used to because I am so “smart”. I found myself getting frustrated because I was not feeling as confident as I usually did when facing these types of challenges. I thought to myself, God is showing me something.

The things that God is having me to pursue are not “easy”. If they were easy I would not have to call on Him for strength, courage and assistance. He would not be glorified in the process, I could boast of my own works and have no need for God in this area of my life. He told me the other day – “be DILIGENT in your pursuit of excellence”. Although God has set me apart as pure, guiltless, and excellent, I must still DO WORK to achieve success. These tasks will not complete themselves, and I have already experienced the disappointment associated with putting out something that I know is not my best (or God’s best) work.

Transitions & Transformation Part II: Fully Investing in the Pursuit

This is part two of an X-part series entitled "Transitions & Transformation", read part one HERE.

One day I was praying & I told Him straight up, “God, if this is really what you want me to pursue you said that you would make provision.” It had been a year since I graduated from college, & summer seemed as though it was going to be another dry period of inconsistent income. Therefore, allowing for no financial planning or independence. I had a bachelor’s degree in Dance & still had not found my “dream dance job”. I’d just finished my second semester working a part-time job at an afterschool program, which paid me way less than the job was worth. I loved the kids so I didn’t let the pay discourage me. I knew that the chances were slim to none that I’d return there.

Before that job, I felt as though I was doing nothing. Semi-rehearsing with a dance company that couldn’t afford to pay me anything, and most days were spent at home or out spending money I didn’t have on lunch & shopping trips with my working friends. I began to feel depressed because I thought that I didn’t have anything going for myself. Many of my friends I had graduated with were at full-time 9-5s, or grad school, or touring around the world as professional dancers. Lack of self-confidence, lack of trust in God & operating in fear is what led me to feel desperate for work.

This desperation led me to make rash decisions that really didn’t require any faith or consultation from God. Thankfully, I was placed in positions such as the afterschool program & the dance company where I was blessed although I strongly believe that I was not led to those places after getting guidance from God. Those jobs were results of decisions I had made because I believed my self-worth was equivalent to my post-grad success. Many people thought that pursing a career in dance did not seem promising and I had strong desire to prove them wrong.

But I was still unsatisfied. I was not fully invested in the pursuit of my God-given purpose. Keeping my job as an afterschool tutor would not allow for me to fully invest myself, so I made the decision to quit. Here I am, back to square one doing a bunch of work for free. But God said, “Where I send you there will be provision.” Okay God, show me what you got.

Let me tell you what God did.

i want power.

"At the core of every human endeavor is the pursuit of one thing. It is that which was lost long ago and has been vigorously grasped at by every means imaginable ever since. Most don't realize it is what they have dedicated their life's energy to because we cloak it in many different names and superficial identifications.

What is this great motivator of mankind - Power, that's right power. Admit it, you want power. You want the power to control your circumsatnces and environment; you want the power to control your health, your present life situation and your destiny. You work to get money not because you want money, but because of what you think money can give you and that's power - power to do what you want and how you want to do it, go where you want, eat what you want, drive what you want, etc, without anyone being able to tell you that you can't.

This desire is in the heart of every human and it is actually a Godly desire put inside of you from your conception. You were created and pre-programmed to exercise power; power over the physical environment, power over yourself, power over your gifts and talents. The problem came when we were separated from the Source and Regulator of our power and dominion mandate. This caused us to try and misappropriate power and mis-use it by trying to manipulate people so we could feel powerful, but because this was an abuse of power it still leaves us feeling frustrated. The only way to satisfy this need for power is to re-connect to the PowerGiver and to follow His prescribed path to attain and administrate the power delegated to us. Power is found in the Kingdom of God. (Constituion references: Genesis 1:26,28; Luke 16:16 (Amplified translation); John 14:6,12-14)"

Taken from a post in the facebook group "Kingdom Ambassadors", written by Mark Hollomon.