Impossible things are happening everyday...

As a child, I loved what I called the "people" version of Cinderella. In my household this was Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella with Lesley Ann Warren (the 1965 version). We must have taped this version off of tv in the very early days of having a VCR, because I watched this movie countless times. Some of my earliest memories even include role-playing Cinderella with my mom and daddy before bed, when I would prance around in my silky nightgown and bathrobe trying to make it to bed "before midnight" without losing a slipper.

In the years that followed, other Cinderella experiences crossed my path. I watched other versions of Cinderella (Disney cartoon, Julie Andrews and Brandy), I attended the live musical performance and I even studied the musical score in a college class, but somehow, the magic of that Lesley Ann Warren version of the story remains in my, now twenty-five-year-old, heart.

As I've grown, a song like "In My Own Little Corner" has taken on new meaning as I value the comfort of my own little corner of the world. "A Lovely Night" frequently comes to mind when I have had a wonderful night - a night so special that is causes me to walk on air. "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?" will remain a timeless question of love... so much more complex of a concept than one would expect in a child's movie -

Do I love you because you're beautiful,
or are you beautiful because I love you?
Am I making believe I see in you a girl too lovely to be really true?
Do I want you because you're wonderful,
or are you wonderful because I want you?
Are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream
or are you really as beautiful as you seem?

Such intense lyrics and music could warrant a separate entry for each song, but tonight I want to talk about "Impossible". The song is a duet between the Fairy Godmother and Cinderella in the process of the Fairy Godmother equipping Cinderella for the ball. While Disney's cartoon uses this setting to sing "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo", Rogers and Hammerstein present the true and timeless ideal that "Impossible things are happening everyday."

Throughout the course of the song, the two woman sing that such things are Impossible, but by the end, the words and sentiments change to It's possible. What a simple and pure portrayal of a heart that has learned to have faith.

Cinderella wants to attend the ball. Her request is granted in a way greater than she ever asked or imagined it could be. Cinderella did not have to worry about her clothes to wear or her transportation, because her Fairy Godmother provided for her needs in abundance. When her child presented a request, it pleased the Fairy Godmother to provide in an amazing and unbelievable way. Cinderella learned that her Fairy Godmother was worthy of her faith and her trust.

Cinderella's life was not without trial, not without drama, and not without heartache. But because of Cinderella's faith in her Godmother, and the Godmother's love and plan for Cinderella, she who was a servant is now served; She who was unloved by her family is now loved dearly; She who sang "Impossible" and was only at home in her "own little corner" now makes her home in a palace and sings "It's possible!"

"Woman On A Mission"

In the small elementary school where I serve as the preschool director, it is not infrequent to see me scampering through the hallways. I say scampering because students aren't supposed to run in the hallways and I set a very poor example. When I'm trotting to and from various errands around the school, I always feel as though I should already be there and back from the given task. My feet simply cannot move fast enough around that little school.

I'm still considered the "new preschool director" but my enthusiasm, my choice of outfits, and the scampering I do around the school has made me known amongst my colleagues during these past few months.

Last week, as I power-walked past a fellow teacher, she said, "You look like a woman on a mission." As soon as she said this, I took in her words for much more than the friendly greeting she offered and thought, "I want to be a woman on a mission. I want every day, for my entire life to be a woman on a mission. Every day I want to be a woman on God's mission."

I have been reading through "A Place of Quiet Rest" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and learning with increasing intensity the power, peace and joy of beginning every morning with my Lord. Ironically, I'm finding myself much more faithful in my time with God on weekday mornings than I am on weekends. I need God's strength in my work and, more importantly, in my spirit every day I fulfill my work in the preschool... weekends seem to require less strength and therefore less urgency about my time with God. Pray with me that my time with the Lord will become all the more precious on weekend mornings when I can seek Him without a time limit.

In chapter 6 of "A Place of Quiet Rest", Nancy Leigh DeMoss quotes seventeenth-century preacher Lewis Bayly,

"... O man, remember that thy life is but short, and that all this business is but for the use of this short life; but salvation or damnation is everlasting! Rise up, therefore, every morning by so much time the earlier: defraud thy foggy flesh of so much sleep; but rob not thy soul of her food, nor God of His service; and serve the Almighty duly whilst though hast time and health."

I wish for God to create me every day to be a woman, His woman on a mission.

A Blogging Brooke?

I'm noticing that more and more of my close friends are keeping everyone up-to-date by blogging. I'm not sure if I'm a "blogger" but I figured it was worth a shot.

We'll see how many people I include in the fact I'm blogging and what kind of attention this web page receives from me in the coming days.

Stay tuned?