Growth On Repeat

What a ridiculous week.  I honestly don't remember half of it.  As time continues to fly by, I have set a new goal for this blog.  Seeing as how the days seem to be eaten up faster than pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, I have decided to take a weekly break every Sunday night.  A little me time, a little reflection over the past week and some intentionality moving forward.  A Starbucks date for me, myself, and I.  So as long as my life doesn't move in another unexpected direction, this will be my plan and time to think back over the previous week and share my reflection.  Not that I won't occasionally share my thoughts or aspirations throughout the week, but right now my commitment is set on Sunday Night Reflection.

I think the best description of this week has been pain.  Not all bad, after all, pain is the result of growth, but nevertheless, it has emphasized to me how important harnessing that pain for good is.  A few years ago one of the pastors at our long-time church spoke one of the most profound messages I have ever heard.  I swear, monthly I refer back to his thoughtful words and use them to assess my own life.  What are these profound words?  In one word, growth.  He estutely read about the Israelites in the desert and how they spent 40 grueling years navigating the challenges.  What a perfect analogy of life.  Time after time, the exhausted mob was put through the same challenge.  Faminine.  Then drought.  All their sustanance disappeared and they were asked to trust.  What was their response?  Fear, doubt, panic.  In the heat of the trial they not only fell from God, they questioned all of his promises.  They screwed up.  God understood, but gave them another shot to respond to their lesson and move forward.  Did they change their response?  No.  Fear, doubt, panic.  Again and again the cycle played.  Our pastor emphasized that the longer we spend not growing and learning from our experiences, the more we will have to repeat the same struggle.  I equate it to a video game.  Again and again you will edure a level until you pass it.  Only then will you move on.  Thus is growth.  Growth is essential if we don't want to be walking in circles for 40 years.  

The reality of the situation is that we can't control the circumstances that come our way.  There will be days that are hard and the wind gets knocked clear from our lungs.  It is our job to respond to these days with grace.  It is our job to stand up and face the wind head on.  Get knocked down?  Try again, with more strength this time.  The beauty is every time you get up and try again you will develop more stamina.  Another opportunity to pass the level and move on to the next.  You have an option.  Don't flee, fight.

"Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron." -Numbers 20:2