Soul Carving

       I got my first job at age 17, working at a Barnes & Noble store. The first thing the manager interviewing me said was, "Well, Bethany I would say you look twelve. But that would be an insult, so. . ."        Umm. Okay?        But I got the job. And the experiences I loved the most there involved working in the children's department: holding storytime, managing field trips, even dressing up as a storybook character. I remember the double-takes from the class of 6th graders as I tried to muscle my way through the crowded aisles to locate a book for a customer. Lots of them were taller than I was and the name tag slung around my neck really threw them for a loop. Then there was the time I was sitting on the floor, rearranging a display when an elderly woman approached me and asked, "Do you work here, or are you one of the children?" I guess I could have answered, "Both!"        Yesterday I turned ...

       I'll be the first to say, my life has been pretty easy. I am tremendously blessed and when I look at some of the challenges that others must face, I feel great admiration for them. I pray that they will be strengthened in their trial and I will admit that I thank God I was spared that particular challenge. But I also ask for similar strength, should I ever encounter such struggles.       Every once in a while though, something presents itself in my life that has a much more powerful affect upon me than I anticipated. It may start out as seemingly benign and I think like any carefree, go-getter girl, that I can simply brush it off and continue with my life. But sometimes it's not that easy. Recently, I learned that some things will interrupt your life and demand more time and energy than you may be willing to give them in order to be processed and moved passed.        My experience taught me at least two important lessons....