Tuesday, June 14, 2011

blog challenge - ralph waldo emerson

Divine Idea by Fabian Kruse

Imitation is Suicide. Insist on yourself; never imitate. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Write down in which areas of your life you have to overcome these suicidal tendencies of imitation, and how you can transform them into a newborn you – one that doesn’t hide its uniqueness, but thrives on it. There is a “divine idea which each of us represents” – which is yours?
(Author: Fabian Kruse)

hhmmm... it's true, imitation is such a temptation, and is so easy to do almost subconsciously!  for instance, as an artist inspired by others who freely share, it's easy to find the works of those i admire showing up as shadows in the work i create.  i want desperately long to  be different, to go above (and i mean this in the God-sense) what anyone else has done... not because i want to be so much better than another, but because i believe i have a calling with each word i write, each time i talk, and each portrait i create, to speak the heart of the Creator.  if so, He has chosen me, and therefore my voice must be true to His tone; my message must be from His heart; my song must be unique to my His voice.

in my dress, my tone, my calling in my home, my mothering of my children, and my honoring of my husband, i ache to have a melody that is my own only; a reflection of my Papa-God's beauty in a life well-lived.  i have a long way to go... but i do know that it will happen only is watching for visions of Him, not the life-appearance of another, and in listening for His voice, not listening solely (or primarily) to the words and thoughts of another (even another i love and respect!).

i accepted a challenge a few days ago.  i'd read quotes on "self reliance" and blog about them each day.  the challenge came through seth godin's blog, and i adore him, so i took the challenge.  here's my first post.  haha!