Day 31: Parking lot.
“Wow, that photo. It’s beautiful – it looks like diamonds.” A filmmaker friend said that as he glanced through the images on my phone this week.
There were so many stories to tell. The ten days in Kenya had been haunting and beautiful and rich – and once again, God had shown His incredible ability to take our hearts and shatter them to give them more room for love to live. He had flat-out leveled me more than once on this trip, teaching me about the power of being welcomed and embraced, about eyes that see with a faith I pray to have, and about what it means to really be a superhero.
And in an instant, the stories were gone. And not just those stories, but countless ones before them. Pages upon pages of words written but not published, things started but not finished, lists with one or two thoughts that would one day find their place. Photos were gone too. Spreadsheets. Project files. Everything on a laptop that was tucked away under a seat, away from the noonday sun.
Pieces of my life. Gone.
“For God judged it better to bring good out of evil than not to permit any evil to exist.” ~Augustine
I stared through the space where the window had been and looked at the glass that had poured like rain. And I prayed for the person who stole my computer – that they would read the stories and see the photos and be transformed.
The computer hasn’t been found yet. But I have. Over the past 31 days, I’ve been reminded where story lives. It’s wrapped up in every good and hard moment. It’s there, just waiting to be discovered. And it’s ready to transform.
Shattered. Given more room.
The glass does look like diamonds now.
*****
Thank you for joining me on my #31days journey. I pray maybe the Shoot like a Girl stories have transformed you even in the smallest way. Because of what they’ve done for me, they’re not going away. Shoot like a Girl will make a weekly appearance here on my blog – to continue to remind me of the diamonds. And I am working on a collaborative with a friend. I’ll let you know when it’s ready! Please, may we stay in touch? Subscribe to my blog. I’d love to hear from you.
Ronne – Thanks for a great journey this month. It has been wonderful.
I’m glad Shoot Like a Girl isn’t completely over!
Awesome! All things work together for His good pleasure. Love you and this post.
Wow, Ronne I know what it’s like to have things taken, stolen from you. It’s hard and yet God teaches us AMAZING things through the process.
Ronne, this “The computer hasn’t been found yet. But I have. Over the past 31 days, I’ve been reminded where story lives. It’s wrapped up in every good and hard moment. It’s there, just waiting to be discovered. And it’s ready to transform.Shattered. Given more room.”
Oh my goodness, I just love your images, all of this so much. What a great series!
Oh wow, I can’t imagine! I’ve had my purse stolen from my car, but it’s not nearly as bad as a computer with photos and stories…
love your perspective here.
Oh that would be gut-wrenching. I love your perspective, and that you prayed for the person who stole it.
Ronne, you.are.awesome. Inspiring and faithful with a beautiful soul. But you’re still so humble, and such a good friend. Thanks for leading us through the past 31 days.
So sorry you lost your computer in this way. I feel your pain, but am glad you found a lesson it your circumstances.
It takes a lot of faith and courage to see things the way you do! I can see that God has really blessed your series here – I will have to go back through and catch up.