Not Where We Want to Be - Better Than We Used to Be.

A Facebook Post I felt worthy of being a blog entry. We're not where we want to be... but we're certainly not where we used to be!!

Sometimes healing looks a lot different than I expect. It's not necessarily cresting the mountaintop with the perfectly backdropped sunset.

Sometimes it looks like childlike giggling because the "moon dust" looked like the moon had just passed gas.

Sometimes it's your favorite barista informing you they are out of your fave dirty chai latte and they create something else that still brings a smile to your face.

Sometimes it looks like getting curious enough to discover that the little creeping plant everyone calls a weed and wants you to dig up is actually an edible succulent you've been enjoying under your bare feet!

Sometimes it looks like your dog whining relentlessly until you finally give in... only to realize he wasn't the only one who needed to leap into the creek, splash around, and then enjoy a sweet treat (no cheats).

Sometimes we need to release a little "ish," too.

Life has been full lately.

Even when I've intentionally simplified my calendar, protected my margins, and I think practiced healthy boundaries... life still happens, even when we're making FEWER plans.

And this is exactly WHY I practice what I teach.

Not because life is easy breezy and I've got it all together.

But because I need it, too.

I need to calm my nervous system.

I need to get rooted, from soul-to-sole, so I can rise above the chaos instead of being swept away by it.

I need to keep my eyes fixed on things above when circumstances, words spoken to me (or even words I imagine were implied) tempt me to spiral.

I need to remember that peace isn't the absence of storms. It's the presence of God's Shalom in the middle of them.

Even if the rain falls and interrupts our plans.

Even if tears flow.

Even if the creeks and rivers rise and threaten to flood our lives.

I've been through enough to trust God's goodness to protect and provide, even as I acknowledge my feelings, doubts, and pride.

I fully acknowledge that I am human, too.

Sometimes growth looks like practicing the pause and trying softer, even when everything in us wants to push harder.

Sometimes it looks like refusing to believe that a setback is a failure.

Because here's the truth...

Our plans may fail.

Our circumstance may change.

But we are not failures.

God has already factored in every unexpected twist, every poor choice (ours and others' choices), and our very human tendency to mask and push through... or to quit and give up.

We cover ourselves with shame or cover others with blame instead of letting go, releasing, and surrendering our will when life doesn't go our way.

Yet He wastes nothing.

Not even one tear.

When we place it all into His much more capable and caring hands, He makes a way where there seemed to be no way.

Waiting isn't doing nothing.

Waiting is a verb.

It's active trust.

It's active hope.

It's reserved potential energy, preparing to be released in His perfect timing.

This year, God keeps bringing me back to **Hebrews 11**.

Faith is believing before seeing.

Trusting before understanding.

Taking the next step before knowing where the whole trail leads.

Or resting under His wing right where we are when we can't even see the next step, waiting for the dust to settle or the fog to lift.

He gave me these words for this year long before I knew this season was coming:

"WELL spring. Hope. Favor. Listen closely. Speak graciously."

I'm learning to find GrAttitude in the simplest things.

A creek.

A kind smile.

A curious weed.

A timely hand written note.

Dirt under my nails.

Feet up in the air.

A wrap around hug from my adult kid - though I can barely breathe.

A bumbling bee.

A goofy dog.

A good laugh.

A deep sigh.

A good cry.

That's part of the healing journey, too.

That's how our mess slowly becomes our message.

I'm still becoming...

And so are you.

And I'm so thankful that while we're not yet where we're going to be...

We're 100% not where we used to be.

Today, that's more than enough reason for GrAttitude.

#GrAttitude #WildHavenSanctuary #Hebrews11 #HopeAndHealing #SoulToSole #PracticeThePause #FaithJourney #NatureHeals #UnderConstruction #ChooseHope