like leaves unfurling

      From the outside, love-your-neighbor seems like a heavy have-to. From the inside, it’s more like leaves unfurling.

“We are made for loving. If we don’t love, we will be like plants without water.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu

“[T]he Lord, the spring of living water.” Jeremiah 17:13

 

leaning back

      Any swimmer knows that floating is just leaning back, relaxing and letting the water hold you up.

“Having faith in God is like leaning back into water, relaxing and finding that the water holds you up.” Br. David Vryhof

“Have faith in the Lord your God, and you will be held up.” 2 Chronicles 20:20

 

dance

      When you can finally look at all the parts of youself (especially the ones you’ve tried so hard to hide) and say I-like-what-You-have-made, it’s hard not to dance.

“Mom, I like myself.” Terry, age 5

“[T]hanksgiving and the sound of a melody.” Isaiah 51:3

 

back burner

      Every once in a while, it’s good to look at what you’ve put on the back burner (and why).

Back burner: a position of relatively little importance

“What are you doing now to become the person you long to be?” Adele Calhoun

“[M]ore and better life than they ever dreamed of.” John 10:10

 

through the rearview mirror

      Sometimes troubled-and-anxious feels a lot more appropriate than trust. Sometimes trust doesn’t make sense until you see things through the rearview mirror. 

“God reveals Himself in rearview mirrors.” Ann Voskamp

“Do not let your heart be troubled and anxious. Trust God. Trust Me.” John 14:1

letting people be

      Putting people in boxes (and trying to keep them there) takes a lot of energy. Letting them be who they are is a lot more fun, once you get used to not being in control.

“Perhaps the best understanding of forbearing is letting others be who they are.” Robert Mulholland

“[F]orbearing (bearing with) one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2