Doesn’t it always feel busy?
My husband and I have a favorite conversation: remarking on the busy nature of the past few months and predicting that the following weeks are sure to be less chaotic. I bite my tongue as I watch personal and professional obligations rush through the door and my calendar fill up. One, two, three kids get sick and life in its most predictable way, takes over.
Last night we looked at each other and one of us said, “I thought things were supposed to settle down.” And the other responded, “I don’t think life ever settles down.”
And that seems to be both frightening and exhilarating at the same time.
How often do we wish the curveballs would cease and time would hold still allowing for long, gentle moments of embrace, comfort and love?
And how often do our hearts race upon the birth of a baby, when we experience a dream coming into fruition, as we learn about the meaning of life through someone’s passing, and grow leaps and bounds through tears, anguish, frustration and joy?
Life isn’t about settling in. Life seems to be about maturing through the unsettling and knowing that after every storm, we’ll probably experience some bursts of sunshine, and perhaps, even a rainbow.
Mishlei reminds us, “Many designs are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s plan that is accomplished.” Meaning, we plan and predict and attempt to foresee our destined journey, but ultimately, our horoscope is as elusive as ever. We can predict two things: life is unpredictable and with each unpredictability comes a lesson shaping and stretching our soul.
The stretching is often hard and painful…and sometimes the stretching is glorious and remarkable.
Life…what a mysterious, heart wrenching, uplifting, miraculous journey.
