Standing Strong

Categories: Blog, blog Nov 15, 2020

How are you doing? 

I’m asking because this has been one heck-of-a year. One for the record books. It’s had Covid, Stress, Election, Fear, Anger, Depression, Hurricanes that ran out of names, Lock Downs, Riots, Protests, Hate, and Uncertainty.

There’s so much more.

Like you, I’ve also had tons of wild personal “mess” to deal with this year, too. It’s as if the Bucket of All Chaos has been kicked over and all it’s contents have spilled all over the world. It’s just A LOT to deal with, or process, or navigate. It might be all you can do to just keep your head up. That may even seem impossible at times. 

During this Season of Uncertainty I have learned a great deal - mostly about myself.

I’ve learned I have absolute zero control over anything but me. Unfortunately, I’ve also learned the control I have over myself, my thoughts, my actions, even my breath seem as if I’m trying to ride a bucking bull with baby oil all over it’s back. In other words, I’ve learned that I’m a lot to handle. But I am learning to know myself, to handle myself, to be patient with myself, to forgive myself often and to be compassionate towards myself. 

There are times when my thoughts get the best of me. There are times when my actions are reactions. And there are times when I miss the mark of how I want to be. And, all that’s Ok. After all, I am human. I’m not only human, but I am human. 

Anyway, this year as wild as it is, is becoming the magnifying glass over my life. It’s offering me clarity over who I am and how I am.

It’s teaching me the healing power of a breath and It’s also teaching me the wisdom of the Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the wisdom to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things that I can; and the wisdom to know the difference...

Acceptance - there’s a life-changing word. It’s the opposite of resistance, the one word I’m really good at. 

What I’m learning is that I can grow from acceptance and I can suffer from resistance.

Suffering violates Principle #1: It feels good to feel good. It also boogers up Principle #2: Make the hard things easy. Who wants to make suffering easy? That’s a trap, by the way.

As I was saying, the events of this year are giving me clarity over who I am and how I am being. More specifically, I’m learning when I am standing versus when I am running, when I am responding versus when I am reacting. Being aware of these states is helping me navigate through the uncertain events of the year. 

Theres so much more I can say about this but you’re going to quit reading soon, after all, the Bucket of All Chaos is still spilling over.

So, as I have done for 40+ years, when I’m tormented I read scriptures. It just always seems to help, to know that others have been where I am. When I first wrote Becoming Bulletproof, I somehow gravitated towards Ephesians 6: 8-13, it’s about putting on “The Armor of God.” 

Recently, I decided to “Timmy” it, to make it more digestible for where I was at. It is comforting to me. Perhaps it will be to you as well: 

Rest in the protection of Love, that you may be able to stand and be steady in the chaotic day, and having done all you can to stand, continue to be still and know that Love is with you.

Be still. Anchor yourself in truth. Protect the innocence of your heart so that you may walk in peace wherever you go. Above all else, trust Love. Know that you are His and that He has put His spirit in you. Be mindful always of the Spirit that is in you.

Keep your head up, guys. And keep standing. You’re not alone. You’re never alone. 

 

 

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