Escape Hatch part 3
You can't escape from your life. In the sense of "getting out of it" or avoiding it. Ninety percent of life is just showing up. And we know that God cares more about availability than ability. What you're willing to do is more important than what you think you're capable of doing. And, listen, I talk about staying in your lane a lot. Knowing the best ways for you to be... you. For me it's writing. I think, at my most basic level, I'm a writer. Putting words on a page. So that's what I do, every day, in order to let myself be myself. I think a lot of the time--and this comes from the responsibilities of being in a society--we just go along to get along. We do what we HAVE to do. But, guys, there has to be a balance. I read this quote the other day: "You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you." And I think that's so true. So important. When we grind it out all day every day... we lose that piece of ourselves that makes us... us. When we should be feeding that part. Protecting that part. Making sure that part grows and flourishes. God made you who you are. Specifically. Because He wanted... you. Not the world's idea of who you should be. But the Father's beloved Son in whom HE is well pleased. I don't think God is well pleased when we deny who we really are. I don't think it gives Him any pleasure to see us suffer through life trying to be someone we're not. That's when you get tired. That's when you get frustrated and beaten down. Ok. Here's an example: I worked six nights last week because they offered me overtime and I'm all about that extra money in the paycheck. So I was exhausted. Had one night off. And chose to use that night to go play a round of golf (because I love playing golf). Which... is exhausting. Plus it was like ninety degrees out or some such. A real scorcher. And I'm telling you... playing golf with my brother--while I DID get physically tired--man... that filled me up. I felt great. I guess what I'm trying to say is that self care is important. That doing something for YOU once in a while is not selfish. It's a way to be the best you you can be. And that's what people need. My family needs me to be the best me I can be. So I need to escape from the grind once in a while. By doing what sparks a light in me. And that can be whatever it is for you. Working out. Singing. Dancing. Reading. Watching a movie. Praying. Sitting on the porch. Whatever it is that really puts you in a better place. Because a lot of this life IS a grind. But you can't let the grind grind you up. You have to be able to balance everything you have to do--you gotta do what you gotta do. Responsibilities are real and can't be shirked--with what you NEED to do. To me those are two different things. But we need both. We need to be able to DO both. God doesn't temp us with more than we can bear. Which doesn't mean avoid. It means get through. Endure. At the same time, it's a lot easier to endure when you're balancing that out with the things that set your soul on fire. Doing the things you have to do... and doing the things you were created to do. God put that thing inside you--whatever it is. Don't ignore it. Embrace it. Find that balance and everything else in your life will be more of a flow than a struggle!