#Truth

The truth is, when you continue to chase someone who does not want to be caught, you close yourself off to those who do. You close yourself to the person who wants to know how many sugars you take in your coffee; you close yourself off to the soul that wants nothing more than to hear you singing off-key in the shower for the rest for their lives.  When you continue to beg for the kind of love you have been giving someone all along, you close yourself off to the person who dreams of being your favourite thing; you close yourself off to the person who eagerly awaits a heart like yours – no matter how loudly it beats against your chest, no matter how messy or sensitive or soft it is.  You close yourself off to the person who wants to be your safe place, your refuge; someone who wants to prove to you that love can stay, that love can heal, that love can be balanced, and full and hopeful for once in your life.  When you continue to chase those who do not want to be caught, you rip out pieces of your soul trying to make it fit into the palms of someone who does not want to hold you.  You bankrupt yourself, closing yourself off from the human being who would have been able to see your worth all along; closing yourself off from the human being who would have loved you from the start.

Reflection Tuesday

NOTHING is permanent except God and His promises. The leaves may fall from the trees, and the weather may change, but God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb.13.8)

God, the Unchanging One, is the One who set up the ever-changing seasons of the earth and of our lives. And He knew what He was doing. For one thing, He wanted His people to understand that they do not need to worry about their lives. Whatever is happening is not permanent. God is in charge of all the changes. Therefore, it does not matter what is happening because it cannot last. There will be an end to every crisis.

It does not matter if what is happening seems good to you or if it seems bad because it will change eventually, and your God orchestrates the changing. Seasons are His way of guaranteeing improvement.  This means that seasonal change is one of His most consistent way of bringing hope. This means that you do not throw your hope away, even in the darkest season of your life.  After all, no matter how cold you get in the winter, you always know summer is coming. Likewise, when winter comes, you do not throw away your swim trunks.  You know the summer will come around again.  You know you will need those swim, trunks – but when you jump in the water to go swimming, you will not need the long-sleeved pullover you may have been wearing in the middle of the winter.

In the same way, when a “wintery” economic season comes upon you, do not throw away your bank account, even if it seems useless.  Leave some money in it to keep it open. Why? Because the season is coming when you will be able to add more money to it again.  Everything is seasonal, times of plenty and times of poverty.  Winter never stays. Summer never stays, either.

Both employment and unemployment are seasonal.  If you are unemployed, then a time of employment lies ahead.  If this is the season for you to leave your job, then a better job is up ahead.  You have got to close out one chapter in order to open up the next one.  Most of the time, you have to get ready for a chapter that is bigger and better than the one before.

To everything there is a season. Times of crisis are temporary. This is good.

Just simple

Keep the honest moments close to your heart. The ones that are the most human. When you laugh until your ribs ache with your friends, when you feel stars  exploding inside of you from falling in love, when life breaks you open and those tears of transformation pour like a river from your soul. Life is really quite simple. We get to experience this planet for a brief while. We get to learn how to love ourselves and one another for the strange, messy, and magical creatures we are.  What a gift it is to have a human life. If you look a little closer, there is always something to be grateful for. True gratitude isn’t ignoring the darkness. It’s participating with your whole heart in whatever moment life brings. It’s leaning into the unfolding process and having the courage to need  all of the answers.