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The First Step to Soul Intimacy (PRINTABLE) #WhitespaceStory (Day 16)

By Bonnie Gray • July 30, 2014 • 10 Comments

You know, something very deep inside happens when we take time to feed our souls.  To do the things we really long to enjoy, that gives us a sense of rest.  To have some space to just be still.  And get in touch with the child in each of us.

That child in each of us carries stories, thoughts, needs and feelings even though we have everyday responsibilities in our world as moms, working women, wife, daughter and friend. Sometimes those stories come alive as we take a walk, sit with a soulful book, sing, paint, journal, take a bath — or they come alive when we bake, craft, work with our hands in the garden, or hold a warm cup of tea.

It’s the first step of soul intimacy in any relationship —

giving yourself permission to open your soft — desire-laden — rest-craving self to the other person.

Show up in a pocket of quiet.

The first step of intimacy begins by making choices — to make room for you.

So, God can come meet with you.

Rather than thinking of how you can meet with God — show up — vulnerable and bare — caught in the act of enjoying something that feeds your soul.

Then, listen for God’s gentle whispers as He joins you  —

You’re beautiful.
I want to be here.
With you.

Do you remember a first intimate moment with someone you liked — who became someone you loved?

Those soul-shaping moments happened because you let that person into your world.  Maybe hand in hand strolling? Were you laughing yourself silly, enjoying something yummy in a new restaurant?

Or were you sitting across each other at a cafe, as you shared a vignette of a story that you never told anyone before.  And maybe he shared one with you too?

All of a sudden, that pregnant moment birthed a new world that made you breathe differently.  Move differently. Even your shoulders seemed to exhale.  You spoke softer.  You laughed.  Maybe you even cried.

You stepped outside of being functional and stepped into being simply you.

You became known.

You became loved.

Take the time to remember what once fed your soul.

Take the time to be inconvenienced — so you can rest and show up…in whitespace.

This desire for soul intimacy might seem to complicate your life.  You’ll have to make changes.

But, the beautiful simple, truth is this: you were made to be life fully alive. Vibrant. Refreshed.

God’s given you a heart that appreciates the smallest of things that give you the deepest sense of rightness about yourself.

Do you have one of those small moments of rest that refreshes you so deeply?

Share your whitespace story.  Share your journey.

I wrote Finding Spiritual Whitespace with the passionate hope you’ll be inspired to make room in your life for you.  Your story. For rest.  

Thank you for sharing how this book has been speaking to you and inspiring you to create whitespace —  by linking up in our weekly blog link up: Whitespace Thursdays. Your blog posts are soul beautiful. I can’t keep them to myself.

Today, I’m spotlighting a #SpiritualWhitespace Story from fellow kindred Janine Crum.

Screen Shot 2014-07-24 at 1.07.42 PMI’m sharing Janine’s Whitespace Story below. But first, she has a special gift for us.

Janine created a beautiful Whitespace-inspired watercolor print to inspire the journey of rest.  She’s gifting it to us as a FREE PRINTABLE.

Reading Finding Spiritual Whitespace inspired stay-at-home mom Janine Crum to make time for art and open an online shop of original prints.

Click on the image below to download this Whitespace Printable.  

Enjoy it — frame it, put it up on your fridge or at your desk — to remind you the first step to intimacy with God is rest.

May this Whitespace Printable be a soul prompt for you to find rest for your soul.

FREE WHITESPACE PRINTABLE
Find Rest For Your Soul by Janine Crum

Screen Shot 2014-07-29 at 10.09.43 PM

{click image to download}

 

Whitespace.

I didn’t know I needed it – I honestly didn’t even know what it was.

When I heard Bonnie tell her story one Sunday morning at church, I was moved to tears. She stood there raw, crying — trying to choke out the words on the page in her hand.

Oh, how I’ve been there! I did the same thing a couple of years ago. Standing in front of a room full of people telling my story. A story I carried with me that needed to be released, shared, exposed to light.

After the service was over and the room started to clear out, I found Bonnie. I had to cry with her. I had to tell her that I “get it”. Although our stories weren’t exactly the same, I too had carried a heavy load and I wanted her to know that she wasn’t alone — she was brave and courageous for sharing.

I was brave and courageous.

Or so I thought.

It Was Time

When Bonnie finished writing her book, I was excited for her — a dream come true! I stood with her one evening, right before the cover art for her book had been finalized, and listened to her share the journey the writing of this book led her on.

Whitespace.

It kept coming up.

As an artist, I knew I should get it. I sort of did. I have an understanding of the importance of “negative space” in a piece of art. A painting, a photograph, a design layout. The space that allows your eye to rest so you can focus on the subject matter of the piece. The area that the artist feels is most important.

But, what did that have to do with me — as a person?

As she continued to speak, I heard the excitement rise up in her voice and saw an undeniable sparkle in her eye. I needed to find out. I needed to know what was written in those pages — the pages that she had pored over for three years so she could share her story.

I needed to know what this whitespace was.

little girl & her whitespace {janiniecrum.com}

little girl & her whitespace {janiniecrum.com}

I opened up her book and began to read:

“Spiritual whitespace makes room — room in our hearts for a deeper, more intimate relationship with God, room in our lives for rest, room in our souls for rejuvenation.

This hunger for beauty, for space for the soul to breathe, resides within each of us.

My story is really every woman’s story. Because every woman has felt burned out and tired. Every woman longs to dream, to feed her soul and rest.

Everyone longs to move beyond coping and surviving.

Yet we often put ourselves to the side, numbing the stillness by doing rather than by becoming vulnerable and real.” (pg. 21)

And that’s when I realized I was not brave and courageous like I thought I had been.

Yes, I had shared my story to that room full of people years ago, but, simply put, I was numb – busying myself so I didn’t have to think about the past anymore.

I thought I had brought everything to the light. What more could there be?

I was beginning to realize it was time for me to move beyond numbness by making room. Room for spiritual whitespace.

“When we make room for spiritual whitespace, we step into the beautiful journey of letting go to discover what’s really worth holding onto.” (pg. 21-22)

It was time for me to begin my journey of letting go. It was time to become vulnerable and real.

It was time for whitespace.

~~~~~

How can you nurture soul intimacy?

Pull up a chair.  Click to comment.  Let’s enjoy a quiet conversation here.

~~~~~

Last Day To Enter & Win a Custom Watercolor Painting of Your Home

giveawaytime_janinecrum

 

How would you like a custom watercolor painting of your home?  Click to enter the Janine Crum Home Portrait Giveaway (Wednesday 7/30/14 midnight is the deadline).

Today’s post is part of my special Book Launch Tour Series  {21 Days of Rest: FindingSpiritual Whitespace}.  Click here to read Day 1 and the entire series on rest.

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Letter from Home: Follow Your Heart (Day 15) (Custom Portrait Watercolor Painting Giveaway)
What Does It Mean To Really Forgive? (Day 17) 21 Days of Rest

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10 Comments

  • Reply Ai Boon July 30, 2014 at 5:49 am

    Hi Bonnie,

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Here is a response to Janine Crum’s work –

    The Artist

    Blues and greens
    Soft yellows
    Pastels and cream

    Swirls of gentle colours
    Greet my eyes
    Curly, woolly
    Words appear

    Joy
    Peace
    Rest
    Breathe and
    Be still

    Thoughts made real
    By the artist
    Child of God
    Creating prints
    In the shadow
    Of her Maker

    Dreams and visions
    Made concrete
    By brush and paint
    And once complete
    We are touched
    By a sense
    Of tranquillity

    Thank You Lord!

    Listen to the song at http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/25168829/

    God bless you with His daily Presence, Protection and Provision.
    Best rgds,
    Ai Boon

  • Reply Kim July 30, 2014 at 6:17 am

    Bonnie, I began reading your book last week and though our stories are vastly different, I am amazed at how similar our healing processes are. Yours, year long, panic attacks, insomnia, no appetite…
    Mine, 6 mo., on the verge of panic attacks, I reached out to a dear friend and finally shared, week after week, when I felt I was going to physically explode. I had many, many nights of 3-4 hrs. of sleep. And days when simply eating a piece of toast took 30 min., a yogurt, 40 min. I ate because it was time and I was supposed to.
    I began going for really long walks every single day. And when I could not get away from myself and my thoughts, I began running. It was hard, but took enough effort that once I was worn out, I could then concentrate and hear God.
    And now, reading your book and hearing what Janine realized, I am not done. There is more for a deeper healing, a stronger connection. I can not set aside the things that got me through.
    Thank you for sharing. So honest, real. You are a blessing.

  • Reply Cynthia July 30, 2014 at 9:04 am

    Thank you, for inspiring us to take time to be still and share time with the Lord. Afterall, this is what we are called to do: Be with Him and allow Him to work in our lives…which, also touches the lives of others. Blessings, Bonnie~

  • Reply Trudy Den Hoed July 30, 2014 at 9:54 am

    So beautifully refreshing and inspiring, touching a deep chord in my heart. Thank you, Bonnie and Janine, for such encouragement. It’s coming every so slowly, but I can feel inch by inch that God is leading me more into the quiet moments without feeling like I’m wasting time when I’m not “doing.” Just trying to “be” who God truly created me to be, trying to trust I can pour out my vulnerable, broken soul to Jesus, and basking in His unconditional love for me.

  • Reply Nancy Ruegg July 30, 2014 at 10:44 am

    Love that visual of a “pocket of quiet,” where I can rest and be refreshed by my Heavenly Father. Just being in his glorious, gracious presence causes joy to well up. As I share, he listens. As he speaks into my heart, I am made a bit wiser and strengthened. And how wonderful to realize that pocket of quiet within our spirits can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Thank you, Bonnie, for your soul-opening inspiration!

  • Reply Day 16: Finding Spiritual Whitespace | Fuller Way of Life July 30, 2014 at 10:21 pm

    […] Bonnie Gray used her blog post to write about the first step to soul intimacy (something deep that happens when we take time to […]

  • Reply Lisa July 31, 2014 at 9:19 am

    Bonnie,
    A friend recommended your book to bring with me from England. Im here in the Bay Area for 5 weeks, escaping for rest & recuperation with my kids. I used to live here 20+ years ago as a nanny, it was where God began my journey of healing with me.
    My marriage broke up 5 and a half months ago. We are Christians, I returned to the uk to visit all those years ago & felt God tell me to marry him. It will be 21 years this year since we married. My hopes & dreams are shattered. My heart is broken. And your book is taking me back to places I didn’t know existed. To bring about MY healing and my self acceptance. I know that only then can I walk forward to the wholeness God has for me. I’m scared. I’m sick. And I’m vulnerable. But somehow, knowing you’re close to me here is helping me to give me strength to keep reading!
    Thankyou for making yourself vulnerable so that I can do the same.

    .

  • Reply What I learned climbing up a mountain... | all this crazy graceall this crazy grace July 31, 2014 at 10:18 am

    […] blog to read and join in there today and hopefully, the book will have shown up by next week! CLICK HERE to join in over […]

  • Reply Lani July 31, 2014 at 10:35 am

    I couldn’t figure out where the link up actually was so I’ll post my link here and maybe I’ll find it later. Thanks for this book. It came at such an opportune time for me!
    http://www.allthiscrazygrace.com/grace-full-moments/learned-climbing-mountain/

    • Reply Bonnie Gray July 31, 2014 at 9:18 pm

      Hi Lani! So wonderful to have you share your post. The Thursday linkup blog post was published later in the day. You can upload your blog post at the end of the post here: https://www.thebonniegray.com/2014/07/what-does-it-mean-to-really-forgive-day-17-21-days-of-rest/

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Pull up a chair. Refresh your soul. Be inspired with soul care, stories & encouragement here. Breathe. This is a quiet space to swap some stories. Share your journey. Be the beloved. Be you. Serving up shots of faith for everyday life.
Bonnie Gray

“Bonnie has often led the way to freedom and truth by going there first herself. Her ability to invite us in as readers into our own stories only makes this world a better, more healed place.” 

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