Breathing Room For Your Everyday Moments

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about soul space, and what it means to have peace on this walk of faith, especially during the overwhelm of normal, everyday life.

Not long ago, as 2017 quietly came to a close, I found myself walking toward the kitchen one morning in slow motion, slippered feet against cool wood floors, in that twilight rhythm that happens before the first mug of tea begins to steep.

Soft light slipped through the back window, touching the stove, the counter, and a loosely draped dish towel inscribed with the words, Eat, Drink, and Be Thankful.

A peek at my weather app showed something near 30 degrees, and for this southern girl, it felt too cold for comfort.

Still, I made my way over to the window, finding the pane cool to the touch, and looked out onto a frosty carpet of partially green grass.

My gaze fell on thick, uneven ruts beyond the patio, the aftermath of a large delivery truck getting stuck in the yard on a wet, stormy night during the holiday rush.

And somehow, though the sight is cringe worthy, it seems fitting to see the winter grass marked this way, bearing dark, muddy scars across soft earth, not unlike the pattern of our hearts sometimes.

I say this because 2017 was a hard year. For me personally, for immediate and extended family, and for many of you as well.

It was marked by tragedy, marred by unexpected loss, and stained with the hollow uncertainty of grief –  Much like deep ruts etched into the tender places of our souls, where patches of green grass once grew and flourished.

Yet, through it all, here we are, going about normal, everyday things of life, while carrying a delicate balance of past questions and future hope along our journey. And if you’re anything like me, seasons like this evoke an innate desire for a fixed point of calm.

Fast forward to the second week of January as I type these words, thinking of a theme for 2018, and considering a word for the year, as much as one can without knowing what it has in store.

To be honest, I’ve never chosen a single word as a focus or theme for the year, but this time, it feels right.

In theory, what I’ve chosen is easy to understand, but in the complex reality of our human existence, putting it into practice is another thing altogether.

The word?

It is simplicity.

Sounds pretty straightforward, right? But here’s where we could insert the laugh / cry emoji, because you and I both know life rarely goes as planned, and hard things will come up again, making mock of my simple little word.

Even still, though it holds connotations of less stress, overwhelm and clutter, the true undertones I’d love to capture on a regular basis are those of peace, faith and trust.

Even if 2018 gets crazy, to me simplicity is about creating breathing room for the heart and soul, and lifting the weight of unanswered questions with a reminder that we don’t need to have everything figured out.

It also reflects a message in Isaiah 30, verse 15.

“In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength”

I feel like simplicity is an invitation to move slow and breathe deep, to maintain quiet confidence in the God who is always in control.

And that’s what I want to do, this year more than ever.

Maybe you’ll consider joining me?

Martin Luther King Jr. is quoted as having once said,

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

And I love those words. Because faith is simple, but not always easy. It requires trusting that God is bigger than hard seasons.

It holds close to His promises. And knowing this, we can welcome 2018 –  Even with all her looming uncertainties and delicate unknowns. She is here, and so are we, with more opportunities to Eat, Drink and Be Thankful.

As we move forward, let’s remember that Spring is coming, along with fresh green grass and the roaring whir of a Dixie Chopper to even out the ground.

Although the full staircase isn’t yet revealed, we can embrace the path ahead, knowing God is already there –  Calling us to simply walk by faith into what He has in store.