opening up
by Sugarock99
Taking an honest look inside as we go throughout our day can be harrowing. This image from deviantart.com vividly expresses this idea. The image seems shocking at first, a woman underwater pulling herself open and having a look…then you realize she is holding a tortoise shell in front. The image brought to my mind how difficult it is for us to open up, to really face what is going on (or not going on) inside and taking it a step further…courageously share that with anyone else. Are we opening up or putting up a facade? Are we really looking inside or playing shell games? Can we bravely face our sense of emptiness, dryness, or pain, or do we do our best to cover ourselves with something crusty and durable? Is this fresh water that surrounds cleansing us or drowning us?
Life can easily pull us under. At any given minute we move from peace to panic. Other times we float, distracted, numb to our soul’s underlying misery. To stay sane and intimately connected with God, our self, and others we need to open ourselves regularly, rhythmically – lay ourselves bare.
Stop. Breathe. Reflect. What is happening in our soul? – What are we obsessing over? Where is our lack of control plaguing us? What’s behind the emptiness that haunts us? What erratic emotions are dictating our behaviors? How far out of line are our desires with our authentic self?
In the midst of reflection hopefully we find the strength to surrender. Release it all…to God and others when appropriate. Invite and allow God to search, disclose, heal, resolve, and encourage. Then trust peace to follow in due time…real peace, the peace St. Paul speaks about as a fruit of the Spirit – meaning being made whole or one.