“Disconnecting from how we really feel in the moment and trying to push back our emotions works at first. But like a buoy in the sea, those emotions bound back up and wreak havoc in our heart. Compulsively, we bury the pain.”- Meredith McDaniel
“He that lacks time to mourn, lacks time to mend.”- Sir Henry Taylor
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. . . . But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”- Romans 8:22,25 (NIV)
The first section of In Want + Plenty, ‘Deep Groans: I am made for more’, consists of Chapters 1 and 2. In Chapter 1, Meredith McDaniel reminds us what happened to Moses after he murdered an Egyptian. Leaving everything behind, Moses found himself next to a well in the land of Midian – alone.
Similarly, we crave connection, but fall for the illusion that scrolling on social media suffices. Consequently, Meredith notes, we let the lies in, lies like:
- God’s holding out on me.
- I’ll never be who I want to be.
- What if I feel this way forever?
Therefore, at some point every day, we yearn for something. And whether we desire something fleeting like chocolate or something more permanent like a dream house, that entitlement enslaves us. Yet, the author notes, we also want to feel differently. Because there’s more to our story.
However, we hesitate to unearth our pain. So, Meredith states, we work hard instead. Adrenaline fuels us as we move quickly from one thing to the next. In that activity, we ignore the unsettledness in our souls. Then we get up the next morning and repeat.
In conclusion, Meredith asks, what if we started out our days differently? What if we took just five minutes to sit still before moving?
Today’s question: How do you find yourself disconnecting from how you really feel? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The stillness of surrender – rest comes”
