“Not all those that wander are lost”—J.R.R. Tolkien
I know it’s been a little quiet around “Choosing Life; Finding Freedom” the last month or so. I feel a bit like I have been wandering in the wilderness (and a very dark wilderness it has been) for months now. I know I’m not lost, because I know who holds my hand, but it’s been a lonely wander, nevertheless.
2014 was a really rough year for Bruce and I. It seems like we’ve been hit (and hit hard) from every direction. Family challenges, financial struggles, illness, and just plain bad breaks. There were so many times that we just wanted to pull the covers up over our heads and pretend like none of it existed.
Maybe you’ve had a year . . . or even a life . . . like that, too. It’s been too much. Too much loss. Too much pain. Too much unfairness. Every time you’ve struggled with all your might to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, life has knocked you down again. Maybe you’re feeling too exhausted to try, even one more time.
So what can we do?
- WE CAN GIVE UP – We can say goodbye to our dreams, our hopes and our self-respect. We can quit trying and just let life run over us. We can even convince ourselves that maybe this is what we deserve because of our past behaviors or decisions. It’s a choice that leads to hopelessness, helplessness . . .and more pain.
- WE CAN BLAME SOMEONE – We can look outside ourselves and find someone to blame for all our struggles. Maybe it’s our parents fault, or our ex-spouse or maybe it’s God’s fault. We can let ourselves become resentful and distrustful. It’s a choice that leads to isolation . . . and more pain.
- WE CAN FIND A WAY TO “MAKE IT ALL GO AWAY” – We can try to stuff our feelings, avoid the truth, or pretend like it’s “no big deal.” Excessive busyness or compulsive behaviors can help keep us from feeling the ugliness and pain that our circumstances have created. It’s a choice that leads to avoidance or addiction . . . and more pain.
Or, we can do the hard things . . .
- We can continue to REACH OUT TO GOD in faith, even on those days we’re not totally convinced he is hearing us . . . or that he even cares about our situation.
- We can force ourselves to find ways to CHANGE WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO CHANGE and refuse to take responsibility for the things that are out of our control.
- We can LET SOMEONE COME ALONGSIDE us to share our pain, to help us see our options, and be our cheerleader and supporter through the toughest days.
These are the choices that will eventually lead us out of our troubles and give us hope and a more satisfying life.
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” — James 1:12
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