I recently released a short non-fiction book entitled GOD, LIFE & HULA HOOPS: SPIRITUAL LISTENING LESSONS. It’s meant to be light-hearted but with a serious message. Throughout the summer, I’m going to share some of the book with you. Only some–if you want all of it, you’ll have to buy it!

Lesson 1: WHY THE HULA HOOP?

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God handiwork, recreated in Christ Jesus, that we may do those good works which God predestined for us, taking paths which He prepared ahead of time, that we should walk in them, living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live.

 

Now why would an overweight, old woman (sort of old—60) with brain tumors get it in her head that she should start hula hooping—again—after more than 40 years of not hula hooping? Maybe it was the fuzzy thinking from my brain tumors? I have no idea, but I can tell you how it happened. I was sitting in my chair one day thinking about my weight loss journey or actually my lack of weight loss.

Anyway, back to the hula hoop. One day I was sitting and thinking about the fact that I wasn’t always fat. For a bookworm, I was fairly active as a child. I loved to jump rope, ride my bike, and….wait for it…hula hoop.

Mmmm…when I thought about those activities, I realized all of them helped keep me fit without me realizing it. I was just having fun, but those activities did a lot more than that. It seemed to me I needed to get back to having more fun while being more active.

Jump roping? NO. Bike riding? NO. But hula hooping? That sounded fun and doable!

But what a ridiculous idea. People in their late 50s don’t start hula hooping after forty years of not hula hooping. And certainly fat people in their late 50s with brain tumors do NOT hula hoop.

But the idea had popped in my head, and it wouldn’t go away.

In a way, our dreams can happen that way as well. An idea pops into our psyche out of nowhere or at least it seems that way.  When I was forty, a dream was born inside me that just wouldn’t let go.  Sort of like the hula hoop thing.

The dream to be a writer.

I truly believe God created me to be a writer. I stared writing before I reconnected with God, but it was only afterwards that writing truly became a passion.  As drew closer to God, I began to understand that my desire to be a writer was a God-given dream.  Some fortunate people know what their dream is at an early age.

And for some of us it takes us longer to figure it out. Either way, following that dream will add and enrich your life in more ways than you can imagine. It brings me joy and peace and purpose. What more could a person want?

God-given dreams may seem impossible, and yet you can’t stop thinking about it, dreaming about it, fantasizing about it.

Just like I couldn’t stop thinking about hula hooping. I knew it was ridiculous to think I could start to hula hoop again at my age, but the idea wouldn’t go away.

So, my question to you is do you have a big dream? Take a minute to share it with us and where you are on the journey to it.

Until next time…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!