Reflections of a Life Lived with Purpose, Pursuit, and Passion

Today, I am inspired and touched by events this past week.  As a lifelong learner, I'm always reflecting on my journey and the influences on my life that make me who I am today, and planted the seeds for what my life has evolved to.  Let me preference this post by saying this is a deeply emotional post, and shares my heart.  While I know others will read and agree some will not, that's okay.

A few weeks ago, Maya Angelou passed away and I began reflecting on the strength of this woman and her impact on my life, through the arts, poetry, reading and her demeanor in life.  Everything we do influences another, and while we may not have immediate contact with others, our stories are shared across barriers and distance.  I never met Dr. Maya Angelou in person, but through her experiences and testimonies of rising above the turmoil and storms in her life I knew her.  I knew her struggle and story, but most importantly, I knew the God she served, and recognized this determination in her eyes, because I have seen the same determination in mine own eyes.  Her passing made me remember, and take hold of the strength of God in me, and my ability to influence others. 

This past week, shockingly and suddenly I lost my pastor, Dr. Mario Maxwell, a young man in age but wise and seasoned in the Spirit of God.  His lost was shocking, not only to realize but even greater when I understand the tangible impact he's had on not only my life, but my family and church family New Divine Destiny Christian Center.  Mario as I called him( he was comfortable in who he was, and not offended or disrespected by titles, because he knew who he was), was a prophet of God. His ministry went beyond our church to the nations and beyond.  When I think of this man of God, I think of the impact of the ministry of Jesus Christ.  His work spread throughout the world, and impacted so many.  While we mourn his lost, the work is yet ahead, because the mantel he carried continues on through those who walked along side of him.

These two event make me consider each day, and how I live it.  We use words as cliche' without realizing the impact of the words.  We have today, this moment and how we choose to use it is a direct reflection on what we believe.  I am encouraged by the words of encouragement that pours out to honor  the man of God, but even more excited about how the life and legacy will be honored by those who were touched by his work. 

Purpose
In living our lives, we must be driven not by work, but by our God ordained purpose for existing.  Why were you created?  What did the creator have in mind when he made you?  What impact were you designed to make?  Why did he plant you where you are?  Living a purpose driven life is a life on purpose, a life aligned to God.  A study on Purpose Driven Life  by Rick Warren is a great tool to begin the journey of finding out why you are here. 

Pursuit
The daily work of fulfilling your vision for life takes concentrated effort.  If you are seeking to live a life that is meaningful, you will never encounter it if you are not in pursuit of it.  People make things happen!  Too often we are waiting on a handout and left wanting because it relies on someone bringing it to us, rather than the effort we take to make it happen by getting in hot pursuit. 

Passion
The passion of the work of Dr. Maya Angelou and Dr. Mario Maxwell is what was evident to us as we watched their lives and is what we will miss seeing in them.  Passion is not exclusive.  Passion it the fire that fuels our work, and drives us when no one else is left to cheer us on.  Passion is the contagious spirit of generosity we see, the glow in the eyes when a plan comes to fruition, the underlying power within us that keeps the boat afloat. 

Why write now?
As I began this blog post two days ago, it was initially to pour out my heart because of the void I was experiencing with the lost of my pastor, Dr. Mario Maxwell.  When I really sat down today, and began to write, it became clear to me, that while pouring out was a piece of it, it wasn't all.  The fuel was the last text I received from Mario in response to a post I wrote about Dr. Maya Angelou.  He said, "You're a good writer."  I asked him, what did you read of mine, that made you say that? 

He had read this post on Facebook: 

"One of my most special memories of my dad, is when they stayed in San Leandro and on my bedside table he placed a copy of Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Women as a welcome and greeting but so much more. Maya has given me wings on so many occasions and awakened the ROAR inside of who I truly am. Greatly missed, but never forgotten. As women, we must become such a force that others emulate the Christ in us!"

When I responded, my response was simple and honest, "Thank you, now I must just start writing.".  Mario's comment awakened my passion, but my pursuit of my purpose as a writer was determined by my next steps, to write. 

So it is today, that begins my writing career, that will lead to published books and memoirs of my experience on this earth. The volumes that are within me, are awakened and ready to burst forth.  Join me on my journey, and let today be the day you begin yours anew! 

Writing this in route home from Minneapolis, MN.  We can begin today, we can start now.  Do it today, and Do it afraid!  Kelly Ramsey, the writer

A Moment of P.A.U.S. E.

Today I chose to stop and PAUSE, and begin to write. The past few months I have placed on my weekly planning form Take time to pause and reflect and write 2 pages a day, in the hope that as I commit to 2 pages of writing my manuscripts would develop and a book would emerge. Realizing that without a vision ahead of me, the books would just continue to be an idea floating around in my head. This book is a culmination of the last 15 years of my life, and the actual documentation of how Developing People, Inc. was conceived and lived out through the everyday experiences of my life over a fifteen year period, or a decade and a half since we began to describe ourselves after a 10 year period, as a decade to document the span of time in periods rather than years. So I have been working in the field of Early Childhood Education for three decades, WOW! That's 30 years of time that has passed. I will be 4 decades and 8 years old this year(that's 48 in November, just two years away from my 5 decade mark). My how time flies. So today's PAUSE made me think of this: P- Positioned A -Aware U - Uncluttered S - Serene E - Expecting My definition of pausing is to take a moment to consider what's ahead, a breather from the hectic schedule and life happenings ahead or just completed. It takes on new meaning, when you begin to cultivate your dreams and aspirations as a writer ( yes a writer, you have just declared it in print, that you are a writer. Whoo hoo! Let the writing begin!) If you are new to my blog, my writing usually ocurrs as I'm thinking, so it brings up after thoughts, that are caaptured in the parenthesis. (If you just want the meat of the word as they say, just skip the parenthesis to get to the story.) So today, I just ended a board meeting with Early Childhood Association of Oklahoma - ECAOK and decided to take a PAUSE to write this blog. My setting is a cozy little coffee house, called Foolish Things in Tulsa, OK, located just blocks away from my meeting location. My norm is to get right back into the grind of my day, and hop back on the freeway and drive the 2 hours to home, work, workout, and the next task for the evening. Instead, today I PAUSED. My PAUSE made me think of being Positioned, Aware, Uncluttered, Serene, and Expecting. I am positioned and ready to begin my journey as a writer. My collection of books about writing, spaces for writers, how to write, how to begin, has been growing over the past 2 decades ( Smile). Have I read them all, no! Only perused them to create the perfect setting, the perfect writing basket, the perfect pens and writing utensils, the perfect collection of journals to write in, and so on. Each of those perfect means, has not yielded a writing or a book, only a collection of things for writers. I am POSITIONED! let the writing begin. AWARE The more I experience as a woman, wife, and mother, the greater I am aware of the people and things around me. Being aware is what centers my focus on my purpose an existence. Being aware keeps my sanity on most days, and makes me a better person. To PAUSE and be AWARE causes even greater perspective. This past week, I was in Rockland, Maine for a conference and took a morning meditation class. Just the simple act of presenting myself for the class, and honing in on my breathing, and body was life changing. My head was clear, my mind was focused, for that short period of the morning. Of course, when I had an opportunity to take my boys to the library what did I search for, books on Christian meditation of course. (It's on my nightstand for reading the next time I PAUSE). UNCLUTTERED This is my lifelong goal, to be uncluttered! In my thoughts, in my living spaces, my workspaces, everywhere. We will just leave it at this simple thought, instead of cluttering the page, with thoughts about uncluttering and how much work is ahead. SERENE I have discovered that when I PAUSE, it creates the most wonderful presence around me. SERENE spaces make me smile, breathe and take in what's around me. I can create it with a picture, a flower, a plant, music playing in the background. The key to being in a SERENE place is to hold on to it, even when you have to leave. Knowing that you can create it wherever you are, and whatever is going on. It's like fresh linen on your bed, with the windows open and the sea roaring in the air. It's the whiff of a home-baked muffin, or a fragrant flower like fresia's that you catch walking by. EXPECTING The greatest work of PAUSE is that it creates an expectation that something great is about to occur. We are no longer stuck in the mundane day to day interactions, but we have created a new world of opportunity. I expect great writing to occur, because I began to write today. So join my in a daily PAUSE, and reclaim your day, your hour, your moment. Selah