It’s tough in Wilmington right now. Hurricane Florence sashayed through here a week ago and left a lot of destruction. After days of rain and wind, we now have flooding and food shortages. Shelters are still open, power lines are still down, roads are still closed, many who evacuated are still unable to get home, life is not nearly back to normal. We don’t know when schools will be back in session or when banks will reopen. Some don’t know when they’ll have power restored or when they’ll be able to safely live in their home. Others are hungry, worried and anxious. Some feel hopeless, fearful and already forgotten.
In the midst of this there is a tremendous energy of compassion, love and caring. Workers have traveled days from all around the country to restore power, remove trees, repair water damage, feed the hungry and counsel those who are lost. Local police, fire, rescue, utility workers, emergency responders and coordinators, faith communities, and others are out in full force, keeping us safe and making a difference.
There is a strategy we can use to help us negotiate these times. I talked about it in July at Spiritual Soul Center. Its called ‘loving what gets in the way’. What it means is to not see the current circumstance as the enemy…as something that needs to be beat. It means to gather your strength, your people and your faith all around you and lean into it. It means coming from a spiritual foundation…not letting the chaos you see with your eyes shake your heart and soul.
Loving what gets in the way is this…deciding to get back up. Maybe that means taking one small step, asking for help, reaching out to make a connection or praying. It means deciding in your mind and heart that there is a way. It means rising up to your life right now. This is it.
I promise you…you can feel whole from the inside regardless of what is happening around you. Take a deep breath, be still, lean in, let your heart lead the way. Know that you are an essential part of this community…and humanity. The Divine, God Itself, is alive in you now.
Ask yourself…Where is the source of my strength? Who am I called to be in this moment now? How am I being called to serve?
I love you so very much.
Leaning in with you,
Paula
