Sparkle Please

I had a nice conversation the other day with a close friend of mine about my recent post "Just Shabby - No Chic." She told me that she enjoyed it very much, "But I wish you would have been more specific about how to bring back the sparkle." Perhaps I am guilty of loudly defining a problem and a little weak on offering a solution. Don't you just hate people who do that?

But my only defense for being hesitant is that I really don't feel qualified to offer a solution. What works for me may not work for you. Attitudes are such a personal thing, just as style is. I love shabby chic, but you all may be "Traditional Home" kind of folks. I do recognize, however, that we all come from the same place when we want to make a beautiful offering. This is a context that we all share, a testimony of Jesus Christ and a desire to serve him. I certainly don't think that my experiences and attitudes are representative of all primary choristers! But, I have been around long enough to know that I share some basic fears and perhaps some attitude problems with more than a few other people. These also become part of the context. I do sincerely and humbly want to help someone else if I can. So, in spite of the risk of exposing more of myself and my thoughts to the world, I'm taking the advice of my friend. I will try to expand my thoughts in that post and tell you more specifically what has worked for me when I find myself at the bottom of one of these attitude cycles.

I'll try to post these thoughts on Mondays for the next few weeks to separate them from the regular "idea" posts. Sometimes we just need to be reminded of things we already know, but you should feel free to skip over my advice, if you wish. Monday posts will give you that opportunity. If you just want to come by for a peek into my ideas, these are usually posted on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I think what draws me to shabby chic as a decorating scheme, in the first place, is the idea that there is beauty and function in old things. Not only elegant, well-preserved antiques, but items with missing parts and peeling paint as well. I love the idea of repurpose. When you put things together in a certain context, the context makes them beautiful again. Just so with each of us. I may or may not be shabby, but I can still be chic! It is the context that counts. Join me for the next few Mondays for some "sparkle" ideas.