Part of what I call my ‘Selfish Sunday’ regimen includes catching up on my DVR watching, meal prepping for the first half of the week, pleasure reading (even if only 10 pages), doing a little journaling, pinning (on Pinterest), and listening to a sermon by Bishop T.D. Jakes. I typically do not listen to the current week’s sermon but, instead, scroll through the titles and play the one that will most likely speak to the condition of my spirit at that time.
Last week, it was ‘Disruption.’ And it was just what I needed a word on.
When things do not go as planned or the foundation of our lives begin to crack, shake, or even disintegrate, we panic. We become fearful of what will become of us. We wonder how we will dig ourselves out of whatever hole that threatens to swallow us. We question why now and why us. We beat ourselves up for every decision we ever made and every action that remotely put us where we are. We desperately seek shelter in the storm. We hide. We run as far and fast as we can (even from ourselves) all to get away from disruption.
But we should not.
As hard as it may be, we should stand right in the middle of its throes. Even when we can’t see it, disruption is good for the soul. It is that tremendous force that shakes us awake when we have been slumbering a little too long. As Bishop Jakes explained, when we are not living in alignment with God’s purpose for our lives, disruption strikes. It shakes up everything around us, and knocks us off our feet. It demands that we get out of that job in which we are no longer growing or utilizing our full talents. It forces us to admit when we are loving more than being loved. It moves us away from those not meant to stay in our lives and closer to those who are. It compels us to gather and pick ourselves up, stand on shaky knees, and take another step.
Again.
But before taking that step, disruption requires that we pause. It presents us with decisions, usually the most difficult, to be made. And when we have had enough–enough of the frustration, fear, aimlessness, discord, and hardship, we readily make them. Whether the right ones or the wrong ones, that remind us that disruption is not done teaching us what we need to learn, we take action. We do something.
Finally.
So don’t bemoan disruption. Instead, face it when it shows up.
There’s decision in disruption.
Course correction in disruption.
Strength in disruption.
Resilience in disruption.
The good news is that we almost always make it through. Usually, wiser and stronger. So endure. Disruption is that visitor in our lives that we never want to arrive, but look back and admit we so needed.
Photo credit: Erik Schepers via Foter.com / CC BY-NC