*Originally written on June 25, 2018*
I am a slow learner. Sometimes it takes me years to learn one lesson. And I guess in a sense, we will never fully learn all that we need to know because life is a constant learning process. But the one thing I've been learning over and over in the past few years is how to find contentment. I am dreamer, so I am always thinking of the next best thing and am envisioning all the exciting things that my future could one day hold. The problem is sometimes I get so caught up in what could be that I lose sight of what already is. So, I have been trying to learn how to find joy within this waiting space. What do you do when you aren't exactly where you want to be? That's the question I've had to wrestle with. What I have been realizing in these past few years is that I can live out parts of my dreams in the waiting space too. I don't have to wait for something big to happen in my life for me to live the life I want to live. Joy can be found in the moments right in front of me. Joy is not only reserved for some distant place in the future when I have everything I want. Joy is already here, but am I willing to search for it? Or am I only searching for the possibility of joy in the future? Maybe this part of my life isn't even supposed to be a waiting space, maybe it's supposed to be a joy space. Maybe what I am supposed to learn in this season of my life isn't how to wait well but how to find joy well. For so long, I thought that I would miraculously feel better about my life if I was living out my big dreams. But what if joy isn't even guaranteed when my big dreams come true? What if contentment isn't found in outside circumstances but what if contentment is found within? What if contentment isn't something that just happens when we feel like we are in the right place at the right time, but what if contentment is something we must earnestly seek for in the moments we feel most out of place? I want to look at the life I have right now and smile. Joy, I am coming for you, look out! _____________________________________________________________________________________________ PART 2 As I reflect on my last blog post: The Joy Space, I can't help but think of all the things that I have learned about entering the joy space this summer. It has been more than two months since I chose to be intentional about finding more joy in my everyday life. What I have realized is that joy is never too far off, and it is often found in the simplest of things. Some of my sweetest joy moments this summer happened when I was hearing parts of someone's story, when I was able to laugh with my campers, and when I could have conversations that mattered. Joy is found in being thankful. Joy is found when you understand that your place matters, and you matter more than you would ever dare to believe. Joy is found when you let God lead you, instead of doing everything in your power to be in control of your own life. Joy is found in letting go and being present. Joy is found when you are intentional about building relationships. Joy is found when you play a game of basketball with a bunch of 11 years olds and have a water balloon fight. Joy is found when you go to the beach with your family and build sandcastles. Joy is always there, always within reach. I have come to see that joy is a state of mind more than anything. The joy space is a space that I get to enter whenever I want to. The joy space isn't only accessible when my external circumstances fall into place. The joy space is always here. The question is, will I choose joy right now or will I keep clinging to this idea that joy is only found when all my dreams come true? Joy has been calling my name for so many years but so often, I ignore her voice. Cheers! This is to a year of more joy!
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AuthorRecent Brock & Queen's graduate and Third Year Teacher! I love to talk about life, justice and faith. Archives
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