Let’s Get Uncomfortable

I have an article to write. I want it to be easy, but, like faith, writing demands trust in the process -even when the path isn't clear. I could take shortcuts; let someone else do it, let AI make something up, etc. Authentic connection, however, like genuine faith, requires us to stay present and keep going, even when the going is uncomfortable.

Some days, my life seems to flow so easily, and I feel so excited. Then, there are days when I feel blocked at every turn. On the 'blocked' days, I hear my inner critic nattering at me, “You suck. You should have done it differently". "If only I could go back," I might think to myself, but I know I can’t. So, there I am. What is to be done?

In the throes of a rebellion against "the establishment" (a reaction to the abusive misuse of power in some organizational structures), scores of people throughout the ages have "thrown the baby out with the bathwater". Do you know what I mean by that?

Let's start with a little history lesson, so that we all know where that phrase came from. Back in the 16th century, bathing was a luxury. Bathwater was precious and, therefore, the same water was used by everyone in the whole family. There was a kind of weird hierarchy that laid out who had access to the bath when: parents first, then kids in order of age from oldest to youngest, ending, finally, with the baby. By the time folks got to washing the baby, their bathwater was so dirty you could no longer see through it. So, the joke became that someone wouldn't be able to tell if they were throwing out their precious baby at the same time they were getting rid of the filthy water.

Fast forward to me, centuries later, totally guilty of doing exactly that (metaphorically speaking, of course!).

Events that occurred in in 2020 provide a good example of what I'm talking about. While we were all trying to navigate the COVID chaos, my experience was that social media went absolutely bonkers (honestly, has it ever really calmed down?) In that swampiness, I made what I thought was a simple post about togetherness, and suddenly my Facebook page turned into a viral battleground of opposing views. The responses weren't even about me - this was just people going at each other's throats because they could. I got so fed up with that sort of dynamic that I did exactly what that 16th-century metaphor warns against - I threw out my whole Facebook page, when all I really wanted to do was to get rid of the 'filthy water' of drama. Months later, we discovered that the page I had decommissioned was the base for our Centre's Facebook pages too. (Oops! ) We lost all our administrative access, with no easy fix available. (Sorry 🤷🏻‍♀️). Talk about making more work for everyone!

Many of us do this kind of thing far too often, which puts us in more difficult situations than where we started. This usually happens when we believe that some negative story we are telling ourselves is true (rather than taking a moment of patience and pause to come to true clarity). From there, we make hasty decisions that lead us down a 'wrong' path. I'm sure we can all cite instances of where we, or even society on a grand scale, have done that.

I sense that there is an underlying aversion to spirituality in our country today. Yes, many horrible transgressions have happened in the name of 'religion', and that is not to be dismissed, but to throw away all spiritual practices, and our faith in an idea of life that is bigger than just us, is, I believe, a mistake.

I was in a support group recently, where the participants were sharing their experiences of grief, pain and suffering. They couldn't seem to find a way forward past their hard feelings. As one sad story followed after another, I could feel the suffering as if it were mine. Each person shared their version of what they thought might be a way through their pain, but things still seemed hopeless. Finally, one member threw her hands up in exasperation, “I have done everything to help navigate this mess! Please, someone, there must be another way.” It was then that I realized that not one person had spoken of Faith.

“What about prayer?” I suggested, and saw a few people cringe. “No, really,” I offered. “I have experienced crises myself, but when I finally found a Belief that worked for me, It became the foundation upon which I stand daily. It has made such a difference in my life.”

Believing in a Power Greater Than Ourselves opens us to possibilities that make even the hardest days a little bit easier.

Agnostics may pipe in with, “Oh, but don’t be fooled. That idea could just be a farce.” Yes, sure, it could be. At the end of my days, though, whether what I believe is 'proved true' or not, I will have navigated my life with hope, trust and belief. That foundation is something more powerful than me, and It is bigger than any government or disaster. So, It will have allowed me an avenue through which I will have always been able to expand beyond my suffering into a more and more fulfilling version of Life; a Life grounded in love, beauty, peace, joy, power, and light. When my deepest fears are rising to the forefront, I know where to go. I dig deeper into my faith.

I felt crippled by some fear I was experiencing a month ago, but I repeatedly returned to the following prayer to help me find my way. It helped. I am sharing it here, in the hopes that perhaps it will work for you too: There is something bigger happening than just my daily struggles.

When I'm stuck trying to figure life out, I'm not alone in this. There is this Amazing Creative Force that is always there, even when I can't see It clearly.

I am completely connected to this Endless Source of Wisdom.

It is not some far-off thing. It is right here, running through every choice I make.

Even if social media seems to be going crazy, or my inner critic is shouting doubts, this Connection stays strong.

I don't need to throw everything away when things seem tough. I'm done with all-or-nothing thinking.

My creativity, my faith, my genuine way of being are all still here, even on the hard days.

I am learning to 'trust the process', as messy as it might sometimes be.

I am so grateful for this deeper understanding of how things work.

I am grateful to know that shortcuts and quick fixes aren't the answer - that staying present, even when it is uncomfortable, leads to something real and meaningful.

I appreciate having this Foundation that keeps me steady through all of my life.

And so, I release my grip on controlling outcomes.

Instead, I trust in this Bigger Process that is unfolding.

I trust Life.

The path always clears and everything always works out exactly as it should.

And so it is.

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BLACK FRIDY SPECIAL THIS WEEK!

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