Don't Hold On So Tight, It Hurts



There is a person in my life who is trying desperately to hold on to something.  He has worked for many years on this project and, for those of us outside of the picture, it is easily seen that the time for change has come.  But for him, he has grabbed hold of the known, fearful of the unknown, with a grip that is causing great pain to himself and others--real, physical pain as well as emotional pain. 

It has caused me to reflect on major changes in my own life.  Certainly I have  walked in his shoes, afraid of what might happen, holding on for dear life to what I knew, no matter how bad it was.  And just as certainly as it is happening now, if it's time for change it will happen, whether we fight it or not. No matter how tightly we hold on, there is very little that can stop it.  The divine plan will move us on whether we are ready or not, whether we want it or not.  It doesn't matter.

I guess what I hope I have learned is that fighting against the change is pointless; that we must all attempt to look at things through other's eyes as well as our own, for when we do,  we see truths that we are not always able to see by ourselves. And as we find these truths it becomes easier to relax and let the life changes happen. 

The amazing thing is that when we relax and let it all just flow, we are then filled with a calm and a peace that we have not known before.  It's still a little scary--this unknown, but it's easier because there are no battles, no wars, no 'hanging on.'  And even more amazing, there begins a new hope.

I wish for my friend a new hope.

Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 24:14

 

The Right Thing

There is a group of people that I know who have taken some bold steps to do the right thing.  These folks are courageous and strong in a way that amazes me.  They're not fighting a war with guns and weapons.  They're fighting a war of another kind.  It comes back to that 'right thing.' 

I work with young people.  I love it!  Their passion and enthusiasm is captivating.  They haven't yet learned to be fearful of unseen consequences.  They just dive into life and their love of it is contagious! 

I also work with adults.  I love it, too!  Their wisdom and courage is inspiring.  They understand, very well, that there will be consequences for their actions.  Some will be good and others will be not so good.  And they live their lives anyway.

The question has been addressed to me, several times over the past few weeks, by both groups, "How do you know what 'the right thing' is?" 

I wish I had a really good answer.  What I know is this: the right thing is usually not the easiest thing.  It's usually not about you, rather it will be focused on others.  Many times it's not your first choice, you'd rather do something else.  The right thing is complicated and messy and there is a great possibility that someone will be hurt in the process.

So why do the right thing? Obviously, many people don't.  It's just too hard.  But when you do, when you complete the process and reach your goal, the rewards are magnificent!  There are few words to describe the feeling you have inside, that only you can know.  You will feel grateful.  You will feel honored.  You will feel content and peaceful. 

And you'll feel able to take on the next challenge.  You'll do 'the right thing.'

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.  

Isaiah 1:17       

Do You Want to Make God Laugh?



A few years ago, I was the director of a non-profit organization.  I had been with this business for a long time and enjoyed it.  We provided educational and social service programs for children and families.  It was good work.  It was important work.  We touched a lot of families' lives and we made a difference; maybe a small difference, but we made a difference.

I always knew that when the time came for my son to graduate from high school I would move on to the next challenge, the next adventure.  I would move closer to home, to my parents and siblings.  Being a single mom, the only one I was responsible to was my son and he would be spreading his wings and flying all too soon.  I made my plans.  I was all ready.

But you know what they say about giving God a good laugh--just start making plans?  Well, He was laughing!  And about ten months before I was to implement my plan, I lost my job.  One of our biggest partners decided that it was no longer economically advisable to continue working together and, in a rather dramatic and hasty action, pulled all of his programs and his funding.  Faced with the options, which were few-given that we had no warning, the board of directors decided to close our business.  It was hard, but it was the right decision.

As prepared as I was for it all to happen in about a year, I was not prepared for the sudden way it was taken from me.  I was ready to do it on my terms, but to have a stranger step in and just take it, without even a discussion, was extremely difficult to take.  It, of course, caused a big ruckus in our community and there were hateful and nasty things said, on both sides. 

Now that it has been a few years, I can see that it all happened the way it was intended.  And through it all, of course, many good things happened.  I was given time, in my son's last year of high school to really be there for all the activities and not be distracted by my work.  What had been housed under our roof at the Center, became new organizations, a lot of them, creating new activities and experiences for many, many people.  Other organizations became responsible for creating and maintaining programs to help others.  In essence, they took what we taught them and created more!  This is the essence of what our program was all about, only on a much bigger scale than we had even considered.

God was laughing, alright!  But he was also molding, shaping, and refining each one of us to do the next thing on our agendas.  From the pain and anger came such good opportunities and friendships and life!  New life!  And it was good!

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2