
Beachy Beach March Love Note
(Originally published March 22, 2017)
You know the old drill in school when you catch on fire… they tell you to stay calm and to STOP, DROP and ROLL…. Well thankfully I never actually caught on fire and had to do that but I have had to use my own version of it, and especially lately but mine is STOP, DROP and PRAY!!! You know the times when your life is on fire and your candle is burning at all ends with varying levels of flames and you have NO other choice but to continue to burn or STOP, DROP and PRAY!
WE are made or unmade by the very thoughts we think or the very prayers we pray or do not pray!!! Whew…. Life has a way of spinning out of control if I allow it to and if I do not concentrate on simplicity, then the opposite of that is chaos and all that encompassess that. I found myself in a spiral of madness, with arms flailing, and heart pounding and temperature rising and thoughts fleeing, till I paused and remembered, this is NOT the formula for peace as I know it. In the middle of phones ringing, text buzzing, doors knocking and people beckoning, I grabbed Lacey and Susan and my Jesus Calling book , and we sat and sighed and we hit pause, and it was lovely, and it was peace. It was the middle of the day and thankfully there is NO set time that you can STOP, DROP and PRAY. I am thankful for these chaotic times especially when I am smart enough to know that the answers do not lie in me. I am thankful I have to seek something bigger than me. It is when I seek to stop and become quiet for a moment and listen and learn from something that is wiser and more powerful that can help me be more of a blessing in the next more peaceful moment.
One time as a young person a man that rarely opened his mouth said, "You have to dig your well before you get thirsty" I have always remembered that and have always sought to not let much time go by before I spend that quiet peaceful seeking time to learn and to grow so I can be more of the person I am put here to be. I think the only way I can do that is to get out of the way and read and study.
God has also placed the most amazing people in my life and I have been in awe at the lessons I have learned from all of you. I know I tell you all the time what a gift you are and I Just can not say it enough. For some reason you have shown up at just the right time and it is the sweetest gift and although it is in no way deserved it is in every way appreciated.
As I reflect on this month, I am grateful for the chaos and the calm….. I know the answer and I know that in that answer is peace for me…... and in that peace lies joy and each time I find it.....it gets deeper and the gratitude grows. I am so thankful I learned to dig my well before I got thirsty and for that my cup always overflows.
Grateful to overflowing, Karen