My interview today went really well. Anita is a great host, and it felt like we were having a conversation rather than straight question and answer.
Even though I've done a ton of interviews, I still get nervous--especially doing interviews on my own. When Toben and I do interviews for our books together it's a lot easier; I know that if my mind goes blank he'll fill the silence!
Since I've started doing interviews on my own for Living Simply, I've really sensed the importance of having Toben pray for me beforehand. The first time I asked him to he looked at me like I might be joking, but he did it anyway. And today he prayed such a wonderful prayer over me that I felt totally blessed.
I shut myself in my room, sat on the floor by the fireplace, and spread out everything I might need:
*my Bible
*a copy of my book, marked up and with pages turned down
*cheat sheets with key points for different topics
*a sheet of quotes and Scripture verses I might need
*a list of interview questions with a word or two to remind me of what I'd like to say in response
*a pen
*a confirmation sheet for the interview with program information
Think that's about it. I get as prepared as I can get, get down on my knees, and ask God to give me words to speak, to help me think clearly, and to rely on him rather than myself.
Then I sit there feeling a little sick to my stomach, with my hands literally shaking, and wait for the phone to ring!
Sounds like fun, huh?
But once we get going, I feel peaceful and calm and actually have fun! The time flies and I'm surprised when we're done.
In the past, I've often hung up and thought, I should have said this or I wasn't very clear about that. But totally giving it to God first makes a huge difference. Of course, there's always more I could have said, but I have to trust that he's going to answer--after all, it's all about him, not me.
When it comes right down to it, the reason why I think living simply is so important is because I want women to find the "wide open, spacious life" that Paul talks about in Corinthians, the "more and better life than you've ever dreamed of" that Jesus talks about in John.
When we cut back, when we choose less, when we take time to rest, when we eliminate the clutter in our homes, cars, schedules, and minds, we find time and energy to pursue a relationship with God--something I think so many of us want but are too tired to figure out. That's what living simply is about, I think. Having what we need--time, energy, rest--to love God with our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.