It's Not All Movements and Motion Sometimes It's Solace and Stillness

Do. Do. Do. Go. Go. Go. Be. Be. Be. - These are monikers of our lives. We are applauded for going, doing, and being. We are pushed to action. We ask each other “What did you do this weekend, or what are you doing this weekend?” We inquire, “Was your vacation fun?”

It’s all about movement and motion.

And yet we are missing the power in being still. Going slow. Pausing. Breathing. Reflection. Processing. 

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating laziness or being disengaged from life. But I AM advocating taking regular moments and breaks in the midst of it.

The older I get the more my body is telling me to slow down. In a family that loves activity and adventure - this can be hard. I can feel like the weak leak. The bottleneck. The one at the end of the line in a herd of racers. And yet this is where I feel fullness. This is where I see God instead of racing by and not hearing Him or noticing Him. And this is my challenge - to show Him to the rest of my crew, lest they learn that life is only enjoyed during the journey, instead of finding joy in the quiet and stillness that come. 

I’ve learned that it’s not the big moments that bring the best memories. It’s the small ones. It’s not the grand gesstures that are the most meaningful. It’s the intentional. And it’s not the loud times that give me clarity. It’s the quiet.

These are the very things our world tends to ignore, overlook, and push aside. These are the laughable. The simple. 

And yet they’ve become my solace, my secret, my strength.

I can only BE the best me - when I have time to hear my own thoughts. Feel my own feelings. Sort out my own problems.

There is such power there. Such motivation. 

So when I go on vacation, I’m learning there are times for fun. And there are times for reflection. Both have their place. And I don’t need to GO and DO something every day - every moment. Instead, I can stop. Look around. Take in where I am, what I’m hearing and learning, and let it wash over my soul.

Those moments may not have splashy pictures attached to them to show the world, but they have deep seeds ingrained in them that show my heart. 

Life isn’t meant to be all movement and motion. The greatest rewards often come in the solace and stillness.

Knowing The Right Environment For You

Bloom where you’re planted. Such a popular phrase.

But I don’t think that phrase is necessarily the best phrase or motto for us to live our lives by.

We went to Curacou on a vacation. Our guide took us to the local distillery where they made a famous drink - the “Blue Curacou.” Even though we told him we didn’t drink, we were curious to learn about the property and history. 

Our guide came upon a couple orange trees, which the drink is based on. He showed us how the oranges were fully ripe and ready - yet completely green. He shared with us how they were transplanted to Curacou but because it was a different environment - they never turned orange. And in fact, he pointed out how the trees also had grown thorns on them in response to the different environment. 

They just didn’t taste the same. They didn’t grow the same. They didn’t look the same.

And this is where I come back to “bloom where you’re planted.”

Those oranges were trying to grown and bloom. But they weren’t in the right environment. They weren’t where they could fully flourish. 

And that’s why I don’t necessarily like that phrase. 

Yes, I believe sometimes we need to make the best of our situations. We need to be the best we can in the environment we are placed in. But I also believe that we may not be all that we are intended to be in situations and circumstances we weren’t mean to be in. 

It’s kind of like the saying “when things are uncomfortable, that’s when you grow.” And I’m like…”Who says?” Growth is a choice. In comfort or when uncomforted.

So sometimes, we DO need to look at where we are. We DO need to look at making a change. We DO need to get rid of stressors, we need to put in place some boundaries, slow down, make changes, or move.

Because we are not in the right environment where we can bloom.

We don’t always have a choice where we’re planted. When that happens we may become different than we were normally meant to be. But good things can still come out of those times. 

When we can try to align our home base to an environment that calms us, brings us joy, and is conducive to the way we live and breathe? That’s when we can really flourish.

“The joy of the Lord is our strength.” Joy does come by choice - and it also comes with wisdom and discernment in knowing where to be.