Newly Purposed

There is a song that's always spoke to me. It talks about the seasons and how they translate to our walk of life. (It's called "Every Season" by Nichole Nordeman)

Towards the end it says,

"And everything that's new has bravely surfaced, teaching us to breathe. And what was frozen through is newly purposed, turning all things green."

There's no question this new journey surfaces, in the midst of such a strange period of time, teaching me all sorts of new things. Breathing is one of them. I remember my first trip to Meijer after this Coronavirus was labeled a pandemic - I wore a mask. I was in the store approximately an hour and a half and I vividly remember taking my mask off outside feeling like for the first time I could take a real breath, not some sort of shallow gasp of air. I'm finding my shoulders up near my ears throughout the day because of the tension and stress. Once aware, I force myself to breathe. Maybe it is a minute. Maybe it's five. Regardless, I consciously breathe and force my shoulders to lower.

Creating space for the pause is teaching me something about myself. I'm finding I'm newly purposed.

I wanted to take time to write about all the ways I feel I'm being prepared for something different, but I found myself only looking back and finding freedom of the past. I've never been the kind of person, employee, manager who can just 'clock in and clock out'. I pour every ounce of who I am into the people I'm serving and leading. I pray about the decisions I make and the impact of those decisions. So when I encounter comments or hear of conversations of my past, the words can be painful, seeping hurt in my heart.

Once again, I'm learning I'm created for something new.

I'm thankful for the new - for the hope of spring. I'm learning there is beauty in letting go. There is freedom from imperfection and there is peace in trusting the process. What was once held dear must be let go to create space for new.

"So it is with You and how You make me new with every season's change. And so it will be as You are re-creating me, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring."