Urgency
I think we’ve lost our sense of urgency. Our reaction time is delayed and its not until an emergency happens that we react. We are desensitized to the loss of human life. We are conditioned to expect the worst, simply because that’s all we’ve experienced. We've borderline lost our humanity, and that alone should trigger our sense of urgency. Children are dying in US sanctioned concentration camps. People loss their lives on a Saturday morning trip to Walmart, and we are acting like this is business as usual. Truthfully, maybe it is, but it shouldn't be. The alarm has sounded. We've got to do better. We need to recalibrate our sense of urgency.
Ambiguous Loss
I remember Lauren London saying that grief is the last act of love. Queen Elizabeth II, said, "grief is the price we pay for love." Since my mother's diagnosis, I have been forced to grieve the mother I once knew. I found myself in therapy to help me navigate a loss that technically hasn't occurred yet. I was not completely familiar with the term "ambiguous loss." It's basically experiencing loss without closure. Its complicated because it can often delay the process of grieving. Those who experience ambiguous loss could be the result of cognitive decline, like my mother, to a missing loved one, to an unresolved relationship. My challenge to you today is my challenge to myself. If this is something you are experiencing, give yourself room to feel. There will be good days, and there will be bad days. Enjoy every glimmer of hope. Remind yourself that in the end, the lessons and the love make it all worthwhile. Create a support system, and utilize them. This experience should not be navigated alone. You are not alone. Loss be it ambiguous or physical is a part of the human experience. Remember, that God's words says, "he will not leave nor forsake us. Death nor life can separate us from the love of God."
Abundant Life
The bible speaks about God's ability to bless us abundantly. God's love is described as being abounding. God’s desire for our life is the exceedingly abundant. How do we get to live the life that God desires for us? Follow God’s word. Heed his instruction. Make prayerful decisions. Seek the counsel of elders. Ask for wisdom. Wait for godly answers. Accept the consequences of past decisions and make an effort to be a good steward moving forward. The abundant life is within reach, but it does require you to do things differently. Change is how we get to live the life God desires for us. Acceptance is the path to the abundant life. Obedience is the key to successfully navigating God’s will for our lives, because it won’t always make sense. God uses the foolish to confound the wise. Trust the plan, but more importantly, trust God.
Anxiety
adjective
experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
wanting something very much, typically with a feeling of unease.
Whether we want to admit it or not, we all have moments when our emotions get the best of us. We find ourselves letting the voices in our head speak louder than the faith in our hearts. We doubt. We don’t believe. We get scared. We panic. We’re human. Its okay. We just have to remind ourselves that we were not given a spirit of fear. We are not to be anxious for anything. The word directs us to pray and petition God for the desires of our heart. We need to be reminded that God is in control. Anxiety has no place. We have the power to cast down every imagination. We were not created to worry. We were created to worship in spirit and in truth, not fear or doubt or anxiety.
Grace
Grace is a often used as a theological term that refers to a divine influence that helps to inspire virtuous impulses and impart strength to endure trials and temptation. Grace is love and mercy given to us by God. It is not earned. It is given. Grace is unmerited. Grace is unconditional. Grace is inexhaustible. Grace is a gift that can be shared because it was extended to us freely. God’s grace is a gift we open daily.
Grind
Grind. Hustle. Work. Perseverance. All of these words come to mind when I think about what it takes to accomplish our goals. We have to focus and commit to the goal at hand. We have to sacrifice. Sacrifice is where the line in the sand is drawn. Most people give up when it requires more than they initially thought. Our dreams cost us time. They cost us money. Sometimes, they cost us relationships, but its worth it in the end. Grind because its worth it. Grind because you know there’s more to life. Grind because you want to see the manifestation of your dreams coming true. Grind for the next generation. Grind for your legacy.
Grit
I have never been a quitter. I like to finish what I start no matter what. However, life has a way of presenting challenges that seem like formidable obstacles. These challenges seem to all occur at the same time to add to the pressure. Pressure produces diamonds, but it also busts pipes. Are you a diamond or a pipe? Do you have the grit to see it through? Do you have the perspective to see beyond the moment? Grit is not learned. Either you have it or you don’t. Grit is the courage to face your challenges head on and persevere.