Moments of Mindfulness: Be Encouraged!

I went to sleep one night and woke up to a different world.

It’s been easy to maintain the ordered physical distance during my daily walks because my only companion is my reflection in the darkened windows of offices and shops. However, it’s been tough to watch the usually frisky neighborhood dogs walking their humans with gloomy, subdued steps. It’s like this mean old “invisible virus enemy” has stolen their spirits as it tries to take away our lives.

But wait! This is a time where our memories can become useful weapons. Remember the fight of your life, the second you took your first breath? Of course, you don’t. You were not alone then, and you’re not alone now. Sometimes it takes a common enemy to create unity.

But first, to adequately prepare for battle, individually, we must reclaim our survivor’s spirit. Individually we must intentionally decide what we will and won’t do to win this war.

Today I found these insightful words in Rob Bell’s book, How to Be Here. He believes that in crisis, “You must look back on the moments when you felt most connected to the world around you. Think about those experiences in which you felt most comfortable in your own skin. Reflect when you were most aware of something wrong in the world and your strong response to it.”

And so, I did.

I remembered that I am most energetic, most valuable, most imaginative when I am focused.  And, to fully be that person now, I must intentionally:

• Acknowledge my fear; however, not live in it.
• Remember that my faith is not a lever, but an ever-present lens to give me perspective.
• Not surrender my joy or my peace.
• Not turn in; but reach out, connect, encourage, and empower, and love.
• Remember what is happening to me and who I am are two different things.
• Not minimize the suffering of others; I will see them as a part of myself.
• Let God be God, and I will be me.

So, as you reflect and reposition your soldier self to win this war, remember to shop for toilet paper weeks before you need it, wash your hands a lot, manage expectations, play nice, and know you are loved.

 

    Until next time, remember,

• You are not alone.

• You are not your circumstances.

• You have everything within you to live a purpose-filled life.