“In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to.”
Dave Hollis
Reflection
Before the first bands of light crept into the black sky on Saturday morning, I immersed myself into the lyrics of the song, “Something Heavenly” by Santus Real. As I reflectively went back in time, I began to write…
Eight years ago today, something shifted within me. Eight years ago today I also awoke in the darkness, but in contrast, today I awoke in peace. That morning the sound of the weather alert, wind and rain, and a sense of urgency to take shelter, broke the sleepy silence; in that moment something inside me stirred. As I hunched in my basement, beneath a roaring train, holding my 5-year-old to my chest, I knew what really mattered.
I see now, the restoration of our home is only a glimpse of the renovation God has done in my heart—renovation leading to restoration. That morning, as the tornado stripped away our roof, my heart’s first layer also became exposed. The realization struck me, we aren’t meant to live, tucked neatly within our four walls and behind picket fences; with the chaos hidden inside. I have since, removed layer, after layer, after layer, of my life, I am now on the other side of the destruction. We have removed not only physical possessions, but also expectations, commitments, debt, and consumerism. I have surrounded myself with what really matters, and what remains, is peace.
Urgency
How do I portray this? My heart aches to share what I have discovered. I see it around me, many in the cyclonic life; the swirling around of everything, except for what truly matters. Let it fall apart. Let the roof come off of your house. I would do it all again in a second. Be willing to be exposed, and real. It’s underneath it all where we are alive. All of these things we think are life are only a semblance that we have constructed. Overfilled schedule and lives are tearing families apart. In a rush to create life, we are losing it! Our society has it all wrong. They tell us- go, go, go– do, do, do –work, work, work – and this becomes a shell of life.
I discovered soul guidance, hidden in Isaiah 30:15, where God tells His people that it is “in quietness and trust ” (NIV) where strength is found. In the King James Version He says, “In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” Over and over again He urges us to stop; “…but you would have none of it”, He says. Although He discouraged their constant motion, they still said, let’s get our horses, let’s fight, let’s run, let’s go…. and like so long ago, He is still longing for us to stop and find our strength.
Stillness
If we clear the chaos even for just a moment, we will hear Him say, your strength, your sanity, your life, is right here with Me. Right here, in the quiet place. But this quiet place, we must create. Quiet and stillness won’t just happen like the inevitable silence that comes immediately after the passing of a tornado. Creating silence feels scary, I know, I’ve been there, but it’s necessary to begin cleaning up.
You can’t begin restoration in the middle of the cyclone of life. First, the roof, your first layer, must be torn off. And then, when the silence ensues, you have a choice to pause for a moment and decide, is where I’ve been worth rushing back to? Sit in that silence a little while and listen to your soul. Is it time for a shift in direction? Time for a cleanout, a cleanup, or a major renovation? This choice is yours, and it’s worth considering.
Movement
So, embrace the chaos of your life, and use it as a warning signal; alerting that that you can’t go on this way. Get in the driver’s seat and be intentional with your time and energy. Life is going to just keep happening, with or without your input; but with intentionality you can end up where you thrive. Surviving may be part of the process, but it’s not the end-point. Be brave enough to live, and start forging your path through the destruction toward what really matters.
Be Inspired – “Say I Won’t” by MercyMe