Spirit Matters: Awakening the world through a life of letters

Note: This column was originally published in June of 2018. As I sat down to write this week, the sign of which I speak spoke to me once again, reminding me why I am here. I thought it worth a re-share.

I’ve been on a bit of a redecorating binge in my writing room this week.

And much of that is thanks to a few rounds of shopping at Hobby Lobby.

Next to my laptop I placed a red wooden plaque with the definition of “inspire” on it. When I saw it in the store, I knew I had to purchase it, what with one word succinctly summarizing my life’s purpose.

The definition on the plaque reads: In*spire verb (in-’spir) (1): to encourage somebody to greater effort, enthusiasm, or creativity (2):to awaken a particular feeling in somebody [Latin ­­– inspirare “to breathe]

Even as the definition is clear, in my heart the word means so much more and is not limited to one mode of activity.

Throughout life, I believe we are given hints along the way of what our purpose is. I can clearly remember over 20 years ago when I worked in the insurance industry and a friend and I were talking on the phone. She said out of the blue “I know you like inspirational stuff….”

That statement took me by surprise with its truth, as I had just begun in my 20s what has turned into a lifelong quest for meaning. With those several words of clarity, a sign on the roadmap of my life was made clear to me, and is something I haven’t forgotten to this day.

Through the years I have sought to inspire people in various ways. As a matter of fact, at the time my friend made that comment, I was moonlighting as a clerk in “The Love Shop” in College Hills Mall in Normal, which sold inspirational and religious gifts. What better way to spend my time “working” than to be around all the products I liked so much?

As time has moved on, I have used various methods to inspire action, laughter, faith and other feelings of goodwill in individuals or groups of people: carefully chosen words (written and spoken); gift giving; cooking; baking; personal visits; phone calls and so on.

Sometimes I know when my efforts to inspire have succeeded, when I see a smile on someone’s face or hear a word of gratitude in their voice. Most of the time I just have to trust that the good Lord is using my efforts in his own time and his own way to leave an imprint on others’ lives.

The truth is, you cannot inspire others from an empty well and I learned long ago the foundation of any good work I am able to accomplish is through the river of constant prayer and meditation. In addition, I fill that well with much spiritual reading. I have an insatiable thirst for the Spirit, through whom all good things come to be.

Or as Mother Teresa once so simply, yet eloquently said: “I’m a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.”

  • SPIRIT MATTERS is a weekly column that examines spirituality. Contact Jerrilyn Zavada at jzblue33@yahoo.com to share how you engage your spirit in your life and in your community.