A Bit Presumptuous

I guess I'd better get my act together and introduce myself! First, let me say what a joy and honor it is to share this space with my two friends. Writing is not a talent you often get to observe in your friends. So being able to share the "page" with these ladies is great fun.

The moniker "GuruChick" seems a bit presumptuous in retrospect, but that's ok. Hey, it's the internet, no one really knows if I'm a guru in anything! The name comes from my early days in the technology world. I was the only girl in my high school computer science class. On my birthday, all the guys signed a card for me and said "You're the coolest computer chick we know."

I have since gotten away from writing software, but now I work in medical technology. Essentially, I provide tech support for implantable defibrillators. I love my job; it's different every day and I get to help people. And that's just the days I'm in the office! My other "job" is being home part-time with my 8-month-old, Walter. You can always read my latest "proud mom" post on his blog, NextGenGurus.

I used to have a solo blog at GuruChick.com. With a new baby, I just didn't have the time, energy, or creativity to put out enough content on my own. So I'm excited to do a group project like this. I can still do some non-mom blogging but there's less perceived pressure to post. I hope you're looking forward to all that is to come in this space. I know I am!

Philosophia's Violet

I’ve always been an admirer of the wood violet. Her tiny petals beckoning the woods to once again embrace the new life spring has to offer. When only a few others have dared to peek their heads, the wood violet boldly stretches her limbs and announces to the world, “Awaken, arise, do not fear. No longer must you lie waiting in the barren darkness, no longer must you hide. The time has come for you to melt what is frozen, unshackle what holds you in, to reach upward and open the beauty that lies within.” She, in her unassuming, humble existence, so easily dismissed and trodden upon by those hurrying by, looks to her Creator and offers the world what it so longs, what it so needs...hope. Hope, that there is life when all seems dead. Hope, that there is more, more dreams to be fulfilled, more joys to come. Hope, that your existence is not in vain, that you have been created to, in your own unique way, bring life and beauty to the world around you.

And that is why I have chosen to call myself Philosophia’s Violet. I do not assume to know much of philosophy or theology or who’s who in politics or anything really. And I have not been much of a beacon of hope. I have spent a good portion of, if not all, my life waiting, hiding, not wanting to let go of the fears frozen inside, not wanting to share with the world the beauty God has created within. But like the tiny wood violet, I know I, as we all do in our own way, have something to share that the world so desperately needs. And so, I here humbly begin sharing my philosophies and thoughts on life, and love and anything else in-between. It is my prayer that I, and any other readers will glimpse the hope and the beauty that exists today.

Tuesday's Child is full of . . . something

So the title of the blog is Graces Three. How convenient, I thought, I'll just call myself Tuesday's Child. After all, the old poem goes that Tuesday's Child is "full of grace", and I was, actually, born on a Tuesday. But the thing is, I don't live up to my supposed character. I am, quite possibly, the least graceful person I know.

I drop things, trip over myself, and say the wrong thing all the time. I even sprained the same ankle twice, and not doing anything even remotely dangerous (once doing a ballet move in my living room, and once when I was "skipping nimbly about the rocks"on the shores of Lake Supeior). I am, actually, a most UNgraceful lady. But that doesn't stop me from trying.

And then I realized, if I am saved by grace, then I must also be full of grace, right? Maybe my particular brand of grace is the more inconspicuous type. The kind that only I know about. Hmm . . . maybe it's a secret, yeah that's it. I have secret grace, an inner grace. One that you may not notice when you meet me, or even when you get to know me. But hopefully, the little light shines through anyway. After all, my inner grace is intended to be shared, not hidden.

So if I am meant to be a secret agent, playing the part of a mild mannered patient services representative for a local clinic by day, I need to let it be known that the secret agency I work for isn't the usual type. I am meant to be infiltrating the culture, permeating all I meet with love and understanding. Building relationships with those I come into contact with. Sharing that inner grace that I am full of. This is my mission, should I choose to accept it.

I have accepted it. And that is why I am Tuesday's Child.

Graces Who?

Interestingly enough, none of us is really named Grace. We are Anne, Marisa and Joanna, three friends who met in a church small group. When we realized that we all enjoy writing, we thought it would be fun to do a blog together.

Our name refers to the three Graces of Greek mythology: goddesses of beauty, charm and creativity. That describes us well! ;) If you add an apostrophe, we're also Grace's Three, women saved by the grace of Jesus.

While we are close friends who share many common interests, we are also very different. We would like all who read the blog to understand that our posts (after this one, anyway) will be our own individual thoughts and viewpoints. What is shared by one may not be the opinion of another. But there again, the grace theme comes into play. We have all agreed to give each other grace, even though the other two may have different (ahem, wrong) opinions.
:P

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." Romans 12:6a