I’ve been processing a lot over the summer – a lot of good, deep, heart stuff – and it’s been an incredibly liberating journey to say the least.
Not always easy, but always good.
As God has slowly been chipping away at the unsightly parts of my heart, dealing with misplaced priorities and my maternally-inspired anger issue, He’s tenderly brought my brokenness into view again and ever-so graciously confronted the raging insecurity that bubbles beneath the surface.
It’s this toxic cocktail of insecurity, competitiveness and a drive for perfection that keeps us shackled to a performance-oriented life, and that demands we remain a slave to public opinion.
How does one truly LIVE under such a weight?
While this refining process surely goes on for the extent of our lives, much like the long years and intense pressure it takes for coal to become crystalized, the intensity of my soul-digging and reflection was knocked up a notch with the delivery of my “birthday word” in June.
Rooted. In what, or who rather, is my identity rooted…and from where do I glean my identity and value? Is my soul anchored in the only One who can hold me fast when the storms of life rise up, or will I be swept away and battered by the fair-weather approval or disappointments of others?
This is basic, structural stuff. Not glamorous to examine, nor easy to comprehend entirely, but the whole foundation of who we are is built on this…so shouldn’t we make sure it’s sound and secure?
As we sailed under the majestic Mackinaw bridge this summer, for the very first time in our lives, I realized how easily we miss the sheer extravagance of a structure when we don’t get the chance to peek underneath. The few from below is breath-taking in a completely different way.
We always admire the beauty of the exterior, and get caught up in the magnificence of the façade, but rarely do we acknowledge that without the strength and precision of the support framework underneath – the awe-inspiring latticework of its skeleton – there would be no bridge to admire. No way to get from point A to point B.
The true measure of the beauty of a bridge – and of you and of me – is what lies beneath. The labor and long years it took to carefully create and construct. The passion and vision wrapped up in its bones to boldly serve its purpose.
And the maintenance? It never ends. It is essential to the health and vitality of the structure. Vital to the accomplishment of its purpose. The moment we stop taking the time to examine what’s going on beneath the surface, is the moment our façade begins to falter.
And so it is with life. And love. And all things worth extravagantly spending ourselves on.
So I’ve been taking a long, hard look under the hood – at the tender underbelly of my life; the good, the bad, and the downright uncomfortable – and I’ve realized a few things anew…
• As long as we resent our inability to be perfect, behave perfectly or create perfection in our homes or children, we will be incapable of embracing the authentic beauty of our own humanness, and the profound sweetness of a life lived vulnerably alongside other imperfect people.
• What makes us beautiful and valuable has absolutely nothing to do with how we look, what we earn, or what makes our hearts skip a beat.
• If doing or creating something makes you come alive…do it. Throw your heart into it. Don’t worry about what other people are doing, or how they’re doing it. Enjoy what cultivates joy in your heart, and live fully for your audience of One.
• It is possible to suck the life out of what makes you happy…when you try too hard to follow someone else’s easy 3-step plan for doing it the ‘right way’. Glean wisdom, get inspired, yes…but then blaze your own trail in your own way.
• Don’t try so hard. You cannot be everything to everyone. And everyone who truly matters, will love and appreciate you regardless of performance.
• Every time we compare our talents, gifts and skills with someone else’s, our ability to use those gifts to impact the world is diminished. For we cannot move forward when we’re looking sideways.
• Gratitude is always the most potent inoculation for, well, everything. Always.
• Using your time and talents to serve others will always be more satisfying than keeping them for yourself.
• Dwelling on the past, or aching for the future, simply robs you of the memories and moments you could be soaking in today. Don’t miss the gift of today; you will never get it back. As Jim Elliot declared, “wherever you are, be all there”.
• As long as others’ successes and accomplishments stir jealousy or self-pity in your heart, you will be unable to fully enjoy your own successes and accomplishments. There will always be the next best thing.
• Every single one of us has, not only a unique purpose and mission, but a unique voice, life-expression, way of thinking and creating, and a unique path for fleshing out this journey. This is not actually a mistake.
• We need each other. Plain and simple. We were created for community. Find one and get plugged in.
• Laugh and smile more. Say “yes” more than you say “no”. Your family cares far less how the house looks than you do…they’re too mesmerized by how you look up-close.
• Celebrate the freedom in knowing that “do not be anxious” comes with a solution and a promise.
As I sat down to process all these thoughts late one night, these words emerged on my paper…
Turns out there were others who were needing to hear the same reminders as me.
Fancy that, eh?
You asked for it, sweet friends…you got it. The very first Simply Bloom hand-doodled printable is here.
Download your free 8 x 10 print by clicking here
Pin it, share it, color it, frame it. Just make it your own.
Take a peek at the tender underbelly of your own life and let the beauty of your brokenness tell a story of faithfulness and redemption…embrace your imperfection… and then, sweet friend, come alive!
Find this and much more in the PRINTABLES tab in the menu:
*As always, please note that this is exclusively for personal use and is NOT to be reprinted for resale purposes. Feel free to share the link, pin it, or head over to Facebook and visit Simply Bloom.
