Meet Yourself Where You Are...and Others Where They Are

I have been a pro at checking out of difficult feelings—at numbing my anxiety with my drug of choice: comfort food. I've been perfecting this since childhood when I sought solace from an uncomfortable home life, and I continued it through challenging work and relationship situations.

And then when I've pulled my head out of the sand and noticed the impact of all that numbing, I have been known to go in the extreme opposite direction such as starving myself and attending two bootcamps in a day. Nothing stuck, so I just kind of gave up and thought, "It is what it is. I am what I am." And there was a level of peace there.

The Gospel reading for Sunday was the story about Jesus walking on water, and inviting Peter to do the same (Matthew 14:22-23). Yes, we've all heard it before. I kind of took it for granted and didn't really think it was anything remarkable; I mean, it's Jesus after all.

But this past Sunday, the priest shared a perspective in his homily that I had not realized. Picture this: Jesus' disciples had been called to get in the boat, and the wind swept the boat away from the land. Jesus walked on water toward them. His followers were terrified; they thought it was a mirage. He invited Peter to get out of the boat and do the same. Peter was able to walk on water for a while until he psyched himself out about it and started to sink. Jesus reached out his hand to catch Peter, and then they got into the boat with the others. The stormy sea calmed immediately.

Extraordinary trust in life gives you extraordinary personal power.

THOMAS MOORE

When Jesus met the others where they were, the seas calmed. Jesus meets us where we are, and if we're able to accept it, calm is restored.

It struck me that when I meet myself where I am—instead of waiting for some nebulous future in which I am perfect and make all the right decisions—the anxious storm in me calms.

And when I meet others where they are, it helps the internal and external storms in their lives to calm too. Isn't that amazing?

In contrast, imagine how it feels when you meet another with judgement and a belief that you know what's best for them, if only they would take your advice, follow your lead.

Be present with yourself and with others; it's a magical place. Together, with our higher power, we can take the journey toward healing and wholeness.