Why “With Heart”?
If you have known me or been around for some time now, then you may know that I kept a blog of my time in Mexico called GringaGoesAbroad. So if I already had a blog, why the rebrand? Well, for one, and as much of a cliche as it is, I am just not the same woman I was when I began that blog. And to point out the obvious, I no longer live abroad (still a gringa though). As much as I still love traveling and plan to travel as much as possible while I am able, I just wasn’t sure of how GringaGoesAbroad could fit within my life now that I am no longer actually living abroad. But blogging wasn’t something I wanted to abandon completely. It didn’t sit quite right to let it go. Writing on the blog and receiving feedback from y’all gives me so much life and I do believe the creative outlets that we naturally gravitate towards are God given opportunities to share in His own creative nature. So, instead of pitching this outlet completely, I felt called to give it a new life, much like how God does when we allow Him to pour into us.
Remember when I said one of the best ways to start navigating the bible is by finding the verses you can return to again and again without growing tired of them? Verses that pierce you and speak directly to your heart in a thousand different ways each time you read? Some of those verses for me include:
Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart O God, renew within me a steadfast spirit.”
Jeremiah 31:33 “…declares the Lord, I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. They shall be my people and I shall be their God.”
Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
There are about a million more, but are we sensing a theme here? These verses speak directly to the deep desire for transformation I want from the Lord. The other day my heart was breaking because I was so soberly aware of my sinfulness and the distance between who I am now and the saint that I want to be. I couldn’t help think there’s so much work to be done. I had this thought for myself, for the work that needs to be done in my own heart, but also for the world, my heart ached for the souls that don’t yet know Christ and for the souls that never will. I was nearly paralyzed by this, but I remembered that that is exactly how the devil wants me to respond to such a mission before me, but I was reminded that I can rest easy knowing that everything that needs to “be done” will be done. Not by my own power but by God Almighty’s (Isaiah 46:10 “At the beginning I declare the outcome; from of old things not yet done. I say that my plan shall stand, I accomplish my every desire”). The only thing I need to do is stay with Jesus, and let him transform my own heart through prayer into something that looks more like His and everything else will flow from there (Proverbs 4:23 “With all diligence guard your heart, for from it are the sources of life”). This is relevant regardless of where I am living, what I do for work, and who I am around. I chose With Heart because I think it expresses perfectly that desire for renewal, but also acknowledges the fact that I am indeed a fallen human being with concupiscence so each step will take fortitude, will take heart, in order to win the battle for my soul.
The date chosen for the launch of this re-brand is nothing random either. I had been holding this project close to my chest, not quite ready to show my cards yet for years, but I knew the tighter I held onto this, the more this idea would crash and burn without getting out to the world in a timely manner. I wanted the launch date to be intentional and fitting, but was coming up with nada. I thought about launching on the feast of one of the Sacred Hearts, but they were either approaching way too soon or not soon enough, so all I could do was ask the Lord to reveal to me a date pleasing to Him. Funnily enough I was reading a different blog online and that is when a big pop-up of Saint Carlo Acutis appeared. It featured his most popular picture of him sporting his red polo. I thought to myself, “Oh hello Carlo, pray for us” but swiftly exited the ad. The image however stuck in my brain the whole morning. How very on brand of Carlo to wear red I thought haha. Prompted by the spirit, I remembered that Carlo is the Patron Saint of the Internet. How perfect! His feast day is a little far away though (October 12), I thought. But what I was unaware of in the moment was that His original canonization for April 27th was postponed due to the passing of Pope Francis (eternal rest grant unto him). So his new canonization date was set for September 7th. Just three weeks after I prayed for a date. The perfect amount of time for preparation without hesitation. I thought this was all too intentional to just be serendipity, rather divinely designed and inspired. It’s a bummer that our heavenly friend had to wait an extra 5 months to be canonized, but I truly believe its because the Lord wanted Carlo and I to become best buds in this, seeing that he also had a clear heart and calling for digital evangelization. Praise Jesus! I also remembered around the same time that seven is the biblical number of completion. So, having launched on the 7th was only another affirmation from the Lord that the preparation for this project was complete and He was ready for me to surrender it to an audience; and what a gracious audience you have been!
This has been my third week writing to y’all! I want to thank everyone for being so attentive this far. These past three weeks have been some what of an introduction to the blog and to myself. As we move forward, I hope you will continue to join me each Sunday as we dive deeper into themes like, prayer, biblical living, and every random thing in between that I feel the Lord is burdening my heart to share with everyone.
Pray for me as I continue to pray for each of you!
With Heart, Ellie