Valeriedictorian
Valeriedictorian. I nicknamed her that in high school. My dear friend Valerie was a leader throughout all of our years together; she led from a place of meek steadiness. When she reads these words, I’m sure she’ll blush. She never tried to hide her weaknesses, which in turn, just strengthened her strengths, in our eyes. I watched her meet challenges face to face and diminish any trouble ahead of her with quiet, yet unstoppable tenacity. We placed her on a pedestal in school; her intelligence and athletic abilities made her the unquestionable choice to be our class president throughout our upperclassmen years. As her senior year rolled around, so did all the scholarships. With college nearly paid for, Valerie’s momentum never slowed; in fact, she charged ahead towards her next challenges, college, college basketball, and then law school. I have to admit that anything less prestigious would have surprised all of us.
Seemingly effortlessly, at least in our eyes, she became a lawyer. She had made it. She was no longer just Valerie; she was Valerie, the attorney. Looking back now, I don’t think any of us ever saw it necessary to push our thoughts past that title. That title afforded a house in a posh area of town. That title coincided with the incredibly cute red convertible that she drove. That title meant elite and trendy places, elite and trendy people.
One day I went to visit her at work as a colleague of hers was drawing up a will for my husband and me. The building was in the heart of downtown Nashville with an almost magical view of the bustling cityscape. Through this enormous picture window, life was fast and exhilarating with airplanes, trains, barges, busses and cars coming from all directions. As we sat in the perfectly perfect lobby, we watched dapperly dressed attorneys and self-assured assistants coming from all directions, steaming hot Starbucks in hand. This is the life, I thought. From appearances, Val had everything a girl could dream of. I was sure of that.
I was sure, that is, until I heard through some friends that after practicing law for over ten years, she was going to leave the law profession and become a teacher. Not only that, but she was selling her house downtown and moving back to the country.
Surprised and intrigued, I couldn’t wait to talk to her myself. I got the chance at a high school football game one Friday night.She sweetly explained her thoughts to me just as she had explained to countless others who asked the question…
What in the world made you decide to make such a drastic change?
During a time of uncertainty, God had provided an opportunity for her to tutor middle school students through a program at work. Simply put, she found it to be fulfilling, rewarding, and meaningful. This newfound passion inspired her to reevaluate what her purpose was and ultimately what her intention in life was. She told me how important faith was in making her decision.
“Faith was huge!” she said. “I do believe this was a decision that God wanted me to make.”
It took three long and sometimes frustrating years for Valerie to actually get a teaching position. Whenever she found herself discouraged, she asked for a sign from God that she was on the right path.
“I always got one!” She told me. Val enthusiastically shared with me some of the lessons she’s learned through teaching young people. I was particularly moved by a story of a young girl in her class who lived in a foster home. She struggled to balance school with helping to take care of several younger foster siblings every night. The young teen had so much to deal with, yet her only wish was to be adopted by this family or some other family before she turned eighteen. She deeply feared that if that didn’t happen, she would go through life never having a family to come home to. Stories like that one were simple, unmistakable reassurance from God to Valerie that she was in a place where she could make a difference. Back then, she was Valerie the attorney; now, she was Valerie, the teacher.
As I listened to these stories, I realized that Valerie had simply traded developing million dollar deals with developing the lives of countless young people desperately trying to find their own way in this world. In true “Valerie” form, she had quickly climbed the "ladder of success"; then out of the blue, catching everyone off guard, she took her leap of faith from the very top rung!
Do you envision your path to your heart's true fulfillment? Are you hiding your dream because you fear that others will not encourage you? Subject to peace of mind and lots of prayer, take your personal leap of faith no matter what "they" say.
We recently started our fifth season of "Nashville Star", a talent contest for country music hopefuls here in Nashville. I'd like to pass along a quote from one of the contestants this year. He said,
"I've met a lot of people who are trying to make their fortune... and then later, they're going to do what they want to do. I just don't think life is that expensive."
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you
with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
Ephesians 3:16-17
Seemingly effortlessly, at least in our eyes, she became a lawyer. She had made it. She was no longer just Valerie; she was Valerie, the attorney. Looking back now, I don’t think any of us ever saw it necessary to push our thoughts past that title. That title afforded a house in a posh area of town. That title coincided with the incredibly cute red convertible that she drove. That title meant elite and trendy places, elite and trendy people.
One day I went to visit her at work as a colleague of hers was drawing up a will for my husband and me. The building was in the heart of downtown Nashville with an almost magical view of the bustling cityscape. Through this enormous picture window, life was fast and exhilarating with airplanes, trains, barges, busses and cars coming from all directions. As we sat in the perfectly perfect lobby, we watched dapperly dressed attorneys and self-assured assistants coming from all directions, steaming hot Starbucks in hand. This is the life, I thought. From appearances, Val had everything a girl could dream of. I was sure of that.
I was sure, that is, until I heard through some friends that after practicing law for over ten years, she was going to leave the law profession and become a teacher. Not only that, but she was selling her house downtown and moving back to the country.
Surprised and intrigued, I couldn’t wait to talk to her myself. I got the chance at a high school football game one Friday night.She sweetly explained her thoughts to me just as she had explained to countless others who asked the question…
What in the world made you decide to make such a drastic change?
During a time of uncertainty, God had provided an opportunity for her to tutor middle school students through a program at work. Simply put, she found it to be fulfilling, rewarding, and meaningful. This newfound passion inspired her to reevaluate what her purpose was and ultimately what her intention in life was. She told me how important faith was in making her decision.
“Faith was huge!” she said. “I do believe this was a decision that God wanted me to make.”
It took three long and sometimes frustrating years for Valerie to actually get a teaching position. Whenever she found herself discouraged, she asked for a sign from God that she was on the right path.
“I always got one!” She told me. Val enthusiastically shared with me some of the lessons she’s learned through teaching young people. I was particularly moved by a story of a young girl in her class who lived in a foster home. She struggled to balance school with helping to take care of several younger foster siblings every night. The young teen had so much to deal with, yet her only wish was to be adopted by this family or some other family before she turned eighteen. She deeply feared that if that didn’t happen, she would go through life never having a family to come home to. Stories like that one were simple, unmistakable reassurance from God to Valerie that she was in a place where she could make a difference. Back then, she was Valerie the attorney; now, she was Valerie, the teacher.
As I listened to these stories, I realized that Valerie had simply traded developing million dollar deals with developing the lives of countless young people desperately trying to find their own way in this world. In true “Valerie” form, she had quickly climbed the "ladder of success"; then out of the blue, catching everyone off guard, she took her leap of faith from the very top rung!
Do you envision your path to your heart's true fulfillment? Are you hiding your dream because you fear that others will not encourage you? Subject to peace of mind and lots of prayer, take your personal leap of faith no matter what "they" say.
We recently started our fifth season of "Nashville Star", a talent contest for country music hopefuls here in Nashville. I'd like to pass along a quote from one of the contestants this year. He said,
"I've met a lot of people who are trying to make their fortune... and then later, they're going to do what they want to do. I just don't think life is that expensive."
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you
with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
Ephesians 3:16-17
posted by Kelly | 3:52 AM
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