Good morning. I am a bit lost with myself right now. Part of me wants to hop in the car and head to Asheville for the day to hang out, eat and take a yoga workshop (the carrot cake from French Broad is reason enough to make the drive…no, really) but the logical side of me says I need to stay in Charlotte. I have so much work to get done. Maybe I’ll figure it out by the time I finish this post.
I couldn’t blog yesterday. Anything that I could have said or shared seemed insignificant given the events that happened in Newtown, Connecticut. These horrific stories remind us that we live in a world full of brokenness. It’s absolutely heartbreaking and so unfair to think that 20 children will miss Christmas, growing up and the rest of their lives. And that six adults who were an important part of crafting young minds are no longer able to do that.
When I started yoga teacher training in January 2011 I distinctly remember one of my fellow teacher trainees breaking down in tears our very first weekend. Representative Gabrielle Giffords had been shot the day before in an assassination attempt where 17 people were shot and six of them were killed. My friend sat there on a Sunday morning questioning how she could be in the room doing something like teacher training when there was so much terrible stuff going on in the outside world. What was the point?
Sometimes the enormity of the world and all of the things that happen in it can be paralyzing. We spent a long time talking about how we cannot become overwhelmed and live in a state of fear and defeat. Now, it’s more important than ever that we work for good. That we do things that lift us up so that we can in turn spread that to others.
My therapist has said to me on many occasions that safety is an illusion. Sadly, it’s true. Nothing is a guarantee. We work really, really hard to create these perfect little bubbles that are our lives but those bubbles can burst at any moment. The best we can do is to be proud of the work we do and actions we take every day. Much like the Salvation Song quote that I posted earlier in the week…“We came to leave behind the world a better way.”
This isn’t the post that I meant to write. I had photos of sushi, Mexican quinoa and oatmeal edited. I was going to tell you about seeing the last Twilight movie last night. But that’s the beauty of blogging…having writing as an outlet. Apparently, this is what I needed to get out early on this cold Saturday morning.
I work hard to not fear. As a Christ-follower (Christian is such a charged word), I am told to FEAR NOT. I believe that because Christ has overcome death, this world can steal nothing from me. My sister reminded me that in a book she read this:
If _________________; then, God.
The first blank can be the worst case scenario (whatever that may be). Because my faith is my foundation, God is final — and He has overcome. If the worst happens, the wheels fall off, and I’m left in sadness, I have hope, I have Him and His promises.
Thanks for this, Jen. Saying that our safety is a illusion really hit home with me. I agree with Jenny V., also. Our hope comes from the Lord, and we can find peace and rest in that.
Beautiful post, Jen. And wonderful comment above, jennyv.
Great post. Enough said.
Beautiful post. Thank you for this and the reminder that we really are never “safe”. We need to constantly show love and gratitude for those we care about because you never know when things could change.
I’m about to go off to yoga teacher training with the same thoughts and paralyzing feelings. Thanks for prefacing my day of sadness with hopes of instilling good and positivity
Thank you. As the mother of two little girls, and as someone who grew up in Newtown, CT, I was at a complete loss yesterday. But this morning, I got up, worked out hard, and then reluctantly got online. You’ve inspired me before, more athletically than mentally, but your post really touched me this morning. Thank you for your words. I needed them this morning.
I have taken 2 long walks with the dogs, intense sweaty yoga sessions, and trying hard to stay away from social media and TV. It can get overwhelming, depressing, and obsessive. I also met up with a good friend for a delicious cup of coffee this morning to talk face to face and embrace laughter, love, and support of the people I’m so thankful to have in my life. Stay warm it’s cold up here too!
You put into words so beautifully what I have been feeling. How can we convince ourselves in certain aspects of our lives that “everything happens for a reason” when such tragic and senseless things are simultaneously occuring in the world? Perhaps it is that the loss of the innocent inspires us all to be and do better. That thought gives me some hope and comfort.
Great words. It is SO incredibly devastating what happened. I honestly can’t even believe it. I couldn’t sleep last night because I was just so upset from the news. I can’t imagine how the families/friends are coping. The only thing we can do, is treat everyone the way we want to be treated. Be kind to all. Laugh, talk, embrace, love one another.
Jen, thank you for this beautiful post!
“Sometimes the enormity of the world and all of the things that happen in it can be paralyzing. We spent a long time talking about how we cannot become overwhelmed and live in a state of fear and defeat. Now, it’s more important than ever that we work for good. That we do things that lift us up so that we can in turn spread that to others.”
Amen. This is what I needed to hear today. Thank you for these beautiful and comforting words.
thank you for this post!
one of my favorite sayings/ thoughts is, “In the face of what we can lose in a day, in an instant, wonder what the hell it is that makes us hold it all together.”
As someone who knows all too well that everything can fall apart in a minute its sometimes hard to remember that bad things don’t always happen and planning can’t stop all bad things.
Hope you had just the day you needed Jen and that it involved some sort of carrot cake.
Perfect, Jen. Thank you.
Thank you Jenn. you wrote the words I couldn’t think of how to say. I read this to my yoga class today and it really inspired them and me. Thank you.
Thank you Dearheart. This is beautiful. I hope you got to Asheville. Or had a day of comfort at home. You are right – there are no safe places except for the ones we create in our own human hearts.
Thank you for your words. In my 13th year of law enforcement, I tell myself everyday “Be the good”.
My heart to Newtown, in my home state of Connecticut.
I agree that safety is an illusion. We as humans think we’re infallible. But we’re not. We mess up and the world is not a perfect place – it will hurt us. We need a God who saves us from our mistakes, heals us from the pain (even the litte stuff, a friend says a harsh word, etc. Every loss needs to be greived.) and a God who looks out for our good and our every breath. My God’s name is Jesus and He is with me always. Even when things are a mess or I do something terrible, He makes ashes from beauty. He is that strong and that good.