w
What can I build for God? I’ve spent my life asking myself
reason, I guess. But I’m finding that, the more willing I am to
this question. Maybe it’s because I misunderstood what
be honest about the broken parts of my life that are being
God wanted when I was young, or maybe it’s my own pride
unmade (and not necessarily shined up for presentation),
and ambition, or maybe somewhere in my heart I still
the more likely I am to build something that matters.
secretly suspect that He measures and rates and reviews
Stacking up these stones again to build what God has
my spiritual accomplishments. I don’t even know what
really been asking for all along… an altar.
“spiritual accomplishments” actually means. Maybe I
So, that’s where I’ve been. My most recent project, a
still want to have something to show for all the work I’ve
six-song collection called “The Unmaking,” was released
done along the journey. So, I want to build something for
in August. Each song was written with passion and hope
God. I’d like for it to be tall and impressive and for a whole
during a challenging time for me. Sometimes, the hardest
bunch of people to take notice. Especially God.
thing about being broken is standing still long enough
Not too long ago, I heard a man named Andrew Arndt
to admit it. It is far easier to stay busy, to create distrac-
say, “God longs for resurrection in us. But, first we have
tion, to continue to spin and build and whistle loudly over
to go through some measure of unmaking.” Unmaking?
the sound of the crumbling core. These songs are what
That sounded like the opposite of what I’d been trying to
happened when I made myself stand still in my own
accomplish spiritually for years. I sat with those words for
debris and dust. Eventually, what I heard in the dark was
a long time.
the sound of hope and beauty singing back to me.
Before things in our lives can be resurrected and given
I am so excited to come to Florence, South Carolina, for
new life, certain things must die. Before beauty blooms in
She Magazine’s Extraordinary Women Event. I understand
spring, roots must do the hard work under the frozen soil
that this night is all about honoring women who are do-
of winter. Before you renovate and re-build, you must tear
ing some pretty amazing things. Events that celebrate and
down the parts of the structure that are weak or damaged
honor those who are achieving excellence in their fields are
or dangerous. Before we make, we must unmake. This
always fun to attend, but something special happens when
didn’t resonate with my ongoing build-something-big-
women get together for this reason. One of the greatest
for-God obsession. It didn’t resonate because that’s never
gifts we can give each other is the gift of encouragement.
been what God wants. It’s what we want – to make God in
Life is competitive enough. I’m excited to be a part of this
Luci Swindoll is a friend of mine who has lived a very
our own image, so that people might stop and stare and
evening where women can lift each other up and celebrate
extraordinary life. She began her career as the first woman
marvel at our awesomeness... I mean God’s awesomeness.
what’s happening with the God-given talents among us.
executive at Mobil Oil. Lucy has since authored many won-
Let me tell you where God wanted to meet me these
I think living an extraordinary life means really embrac-
derful books and spoken to thousands of women about
past several years. On a pile of rubble. He wanted to sit
ing the life God gave you, not looking at someone else’s
choosing adventure for their lives. Not settling. Not going
with me in the silence and dust, after the wrecking ball,
life or climbing their ladder or dreaming their dreams. The
through the motions. She is someone who didn’t take
and put His arms around me for a while. He asked for vul-
first step is to understand and acknowledge how uniquely
the traditio nal path of marriage and family. Luci instead
nerability. And for honesty. I was embarrassed about the
we are designed as individuals and then to live fully with-
embraced her adventurous spirit and has traveled the
rubble and started to explain right away. He didn’t want
in that. When a woman knows who she is and raises the
globe inspiring women to be who God made them to be.
to hear my plans for improvement. He had no interest in
bar on her own life, extraordinary living is inevitable! In
I can’t wait to meet the extraordinary women who will
my blueprints. He wanted to hold my hands and dry my
order to live an extraordinary life – or do extraordinary
be honored at this event. I believe that we should all be
tears, to help me understand that the rubble is where
things – mentorship is really important. I think it is key
perpetual students of life and of others, and I expect I will
we have to start. The unmaking is first. We sat there for a
for generations behind us to see examples of lives lived
learn from these women, as we look at what God is doing
long, long time until I started to get it. It’s hard still. I’m so
with excellence. That gives younger people vision and
in their lives. I’m thrilled to be on the sidelines, cheering
performance-oriented. As a performer, that stands to
permission to raise their own bar.
them on!
Nichole Nordeman was raised in Colorado Springs and released her debut album, “Wide Eyed,” in 1998. She has sold over one million albums and has won nine GMA Dove Awards, including two
for Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. Her best-known songs include “Holy,” “Legacy,” “Brave,” and “What If.” In 2011, Nichole co-wrote 17 songs written from the first-person
perspective of Biblical characters in a collection titled “Music Inspired by The Story,” which was recorded by a Who’s Who of today’s top Christian artists. Nichole is also a published author with a
book entitled Love Story. Her most recent project, a six-song collection called “The Unmaking,” released in August of 2015. She now lives in Oklahoma with her family. While she loves making music,
Nichole’s two children, Charlie and Pepper, are the true light of her life.
EDITOR’S NOTE: I am just thrilled to be able to bring Nichole Nordeman to Florence as our musical guest for this year’s Extraordinary Women Event. Since announcing this a couple of
months ago, I have been told by countless women and men that, “Nichole is my favorite singer and I can’t wait to see her!” I’ve been a fan myself for years. However, listening to her music
with the purpose of identifying songs that I think will best enhance the Extraordinary Woman experience led me to experience the beauty of the lyrics like never before. If you have yet
to purchase your tickets, do so quickly. They will sell out, and you do not want to miss this event.
SHEMAGAZINE.COM
NOVEMBER 2015
27