One Road Less Traveled

It only took a few minutes to steer the silver rowboat across the murky lagoon to a beautiful patch of undeveloped Florida woodlands. My heart raced with excitement. Maybe I would see the forts the older teenagers had built. They were dug underground with shovels,  plywood acted as the roofs, I had been told. Maybe I would see their campsite. With the oars stowed under the middle seat,  I secured the rope to a neighboring tree. I hoisted myself up the slight cliff of the shore. I pivoted to help my friend. She was clearly less enthusiastic. Though she was a fiercely competitive junior high school  swimmer, the nauseous look on her face conveyed that this adventure was outside of her comfort zone.  It would be a hard sell. “It will be so much fun! It’s totally safe. My house is just across the water. See?” We trudged a few steps into the underbrush, but her reticence would not be overcome. I would be selfish to force my frightened companion on my longed for adventure. We returned to the safety of the rowboat.

A lot of life is like that particular scene. The will to, or not to,  venture off of accepted well traveled paths are clearly demarcated by the Yield, U-turn, Stop signs, or green lights in our individual gut.

The conscious decision to heal after any kind of trauma: a death,  a divorce, a dysfunctional childhood etc. is a powerful choice. Many people, due to complacency,  grow unforgiving and bitter, mad at someone or at God Himself for the rest of their lives. A part of their heart dies, and that becomes the  norm. Pain inducing events are paradigm shifting realities. They deserve time and attention, but they do not have to be the standard  by how the rest of life will be defined. You can face the facts of betrayal, rejection, violation,  illness, job loss or such and deal with each discomfort they evoke. You can use those awful circumstances to gain new hope and healing for your future.

The first time, my now ex-husband moved out, I became acquainted with a process called inner healing. Had I not been pushed to my limits, I would not have pursued such a worthwhile pursuit. Though everything I had known to be “my life” crumbled in a two year time span, including the loss of my daughter, I truly believe the best years of my life are now,  and ahead of me.   And just as I was helped on tumultuous days, I have the immense honor of working on teams to help other people when life’s difficulties are causing recurring turmoil at The North Florida Healing Rooms.

I don’t know what wounds are hidden deep within you. I don’t know what particular shadows infiltrate your dreams. I don’t know the  triggers to your anger,  fears, feelings of worthlessness. I just know that all those things are a part of the human experience. I know that they are common and  prevalent.

I hope in 2020 and beyond, our culture will become known in part for this: we open  up the closet and take out those undesirable memories. I hope we allow God and others to help us sort through the mess and accept lasting refreshment. I hope words like “restored” and “set free” become prevailing mind sets and conversation starters. I hope when we look back at the safety of the boat that will take us back to where we say, “I’m good,”  that we will venture just a little farther and discover new realities that embrace lasting freedom. I hope you and I are trail blazers and problem solvers. I hope we travel the less common road of  triumph over adversity.

Isaiah 61:3

…to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair.