I woke up this morning with a busy mind. Not stressed or overwhelmed, just… busy. I’ve been thinking about a lot of different things lately (big surprise, huh?) and it’s as if they were all competing for my attention right out of the gate this morning. It’s not like this is too far out of the norm for me each day, so I went about my day and started my morning routine.
I keep my morning routine quite structured, which I deem necessary as I believe in a wholesome discipline when it comes to the time I spend on myself and with God. I rarely stray from this formula and that typically only happens when I’m ill or traveling but, even then, I do my best to keep it in order…
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Rise
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Water and vitamins
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Stretching and calisthenics
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Workout
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Prayer
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Meditation
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Journaling
I share this order with you to help provide context… stick with me, it’ll make sense soon.
This morning’s routine kicked off like every other morning, the only difference being that busy mind that I mentioned earlier. Looking back, my competing thoughts brought a bit of an energy boost, as I found myself pushing a bit harder than usual during my workout. I didn’t feel a conscious need to “work my thoughts out” through extraneous exercise or anything like that. Again, they weren’t causing an internal struggle, they were just swimming around much more aggressively than usual. Nevertheless, there I was, pushing harder than I normally would. I was in the middle of a set of way too many sit-ups when I was stopped dead in my tracks, and pulled almost uncontrollably into prayer…
Imagine for a minute that you’re a law student (I don’t know why I chose a law student for this example, but it’s the visual that keeps coming back to me). The bar exam is next week, and you’re at your desk, studying away. The books are piled so high that you can’t see past them and countless notepads, every page filled with scribbled notes, are scattered all about. You’re mind is full of repetitive facts and it is working overtime to retain as much information as possible to prepare you for what will be the hardest task of your life to date. You’ve gotten into quite the flow state and your focus seems unbreakable when, out of the blue, someone calmly grabs your hand. It could be anyone, but let’s say it’s your significant other.
Without hesitation, and with purpose in each movement, they grab your hand and guide you out of your chair. They walk you through the house and out the door. The nature of their demeanor leaves you powerless as you trust in their silent command. The next thing you know, you’re in a patch of woods outside your house. The scattered fallen leaves crackle and soften every step. The sunlight pierces through the canopies of the mighty trees above. The wildlife completes the symphony before you as it participates in its own particular way… the chirping birds, the basking lizards, and the seemingly flawless movement of the squirrels as they weave in and out of the tapestry that is God’s creation.
Not one word is exchanged between you and your significant other. You both stand in the presence of the divine with an overwhelming sense of calm. The occasional physical subtleties are exchanged… a soft smile, the touch of your hands as they guide you on this journey, and the sense that your minds are one.
Finally, as seamlessly as it began, you are guided back inside and to your desk. They guide you back into your chair, your eyes meet, and they smile and walk away. You’re left to pick up where you left off, yet you are at a level of peace like no other. Your mind is clear, and your thoughts have settled into a line, patiently awaiting your attention. With this newfound clarity, you resume your studies and all falls in line as it should.
This is exactly what happened to me this morning. Well, okay… no, I’m not studying for the bar exam, but I think you get the point ;). As quickly as a light switches on and off, I was pulled into prayer and there I sat in what felt like a sea of calm and inner peace. As I’ve shared before, I consider prayer to be my time to talk to God and meditation is where I listen to him. I didn’t do too much talking today, but I felt that we were exchanging those silent subtleties as I was reassured of one crystal clear thought. As I floated in that sea, I was reminded that it’s okay to wander.
It’s not my word, but it’s what I was left with… an overwhelming repetition of the word… wander.
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “Not all who wander are lost”, yes? It’s quite the cliche phrase and I’ve never given it as much as a passing thought, but that all changed today. As we all pursue our goals in life, whether it be in our careers, our families, or ourselves, we tend to get caught up in the pursuit itself. I’ve talked about the pursuit here before (click here for a refresher), and I feel it’s important to remain patient in our pursuits. After all, what’s happening during our pursuits is life itself and, if we’re not careful, our hyper-focus on the end result will keep us from experiencing it along the way. As important as it is to maintain our disciplines and goals in life, it’s imperative that we allow ourselves to take a break from time to time as we reconnect with simplicity. Whether it’s a stroll through the woods, a relaxing shower or bath, or anything else that might offer you peace, don’t ignore the pull… let it be your guide back to the basics of all that is life.
I often catch glimpses of my six year old daughter as she goes about her day, and she sets some pretty clear examples of what wandering can offer our souls. She’s often outside on the farm. She helps us out the best she can when it comes to certain farm chores, and is typically running and playing the rest of the time as she lets her imagination run wild, but there are these moments that I often find her in that inspire me to no end. Recently, she was playing on the trampoline. I was out doing some random chores when I caught a glimpse of here from a distance, just laying there on the trampoline and looking up at the sky. She was still, and seemed quite content. Other times, I’ll see her stop in the middle of a run through the yard with the dogs. She’ll come to a complete stop out of nowhere, crouch down, and stare at a bug on the ground. She’ll just be there with it, calm and observing, as she lets it do its thing. She loves to draw as well and she can get completely lost in a drawing. It’ll take two or three calls to her name to snap her back into reality.
Sure, it might be easier for a six year old to let their mind and spirit wander. I mean, they obviously don’t have the stressors or other distractions that we adults tend to deal with on a regular basis, right? Maybe so, but we all started out there. We all were children once. We all had that curiosity, that sense of wonder, and a boundless energy coupled with a deep desire to learn about our world. Most of all, we all had a deep connection to simplicity. The simple beauty of a blue sky with puffy white clouds, the simple pleasure of the smell of apple pie, and the simple joy that came with wandering around and exploring our world.
Here’s the biggest part… and I encourage you to observe this in your kids or any kids, really. Kids aren’t ignoring the pull. If we look a little deeper, I feel confident that kids are being steered by the divine at most given moments. Think about it… do you know any kids that wrestle with their minds? They’re not consumed by the countless distractions that both the modern world and adulthood have to offer. Ever since I’ve had kids of my own, I see perfection in children. They’re so much closer to creation than those of us who have become further removed as we age, and they truly exist merely just to be. They have no agendas, no indoctrinated purpose, and they answer to their own instincts. They are life in it’s purest and rawest form. I think we should keep this close to us as we navigate through life. If we started out this way, there is no reason at all that we can’t revisit this state as we wander through an inviting moment. At some point in our lives, we chose to let certain things matter to us. We chose to let things get to us. We chose to see things differently. What’s stopping us from choosing otherwise? See the beauty in those colors again. Take pleasure in a slice of apple pie. Feel the joy of something as pure as a smile as you discover something new.
I’m so grateful that I reconnected with this today. Not only was I calm, but I was surprisingly willing to wander through that sea of calm with no sense of direction, and no clear destination in mind. We talked about control last week and how we really only have control over our minds and that everything else is outside of our control. Today I’d like to add one thing to this concept, and that is the ability to surrender control. As important as it is that we control what we can and willingly accept the things that are beyond our control, I feel that we must also be able and willing to surrender our control to the divine when it calls, and have complete trust in its guidance. I’ll remind you all that I strongly feel that one’s relationship with God and whatever they deem that to be is their’s and their’s alone. I maintain a deep respect for that intimacy and I believe there are no wrong answers when it comes to one’s own beliefs. Whatever that may be to you, I simply encourage you to trust that the path it has you on is the path you’re supposed to be on, in good times and in times of hardship… and it’s okay to stop and wander through the woods along the way. For just as much beauty awaits you there as it does on your journey down the path of life. Take it all in… it’s there, patiently awaiting your discovery.