Playing in the Puddles

Are you ready for a triple shot of real? If not, then skip ahead to the weekend and come back after I’m done playing in the puddles…

Sometimes life feels like one big puddle where you start splashing around only to realize that the water’s gone up and over your boots.  That feeling? Not so pleasant.  For me, rejection sometimes feels like that.  I’m running along, playing, laughing, enjoying, only to be suddenly struck with some cold, wet reality.

In my first year of college, I found my boots flooded with dirty water.  I skated through first semester: made friends, studied extra hard, even met a boy. Come January, I found myself participating in rush. Why? Good question. I’m not a sorority girl and I knew that. But that was the thing to do on a campus with probably 90% of the students in a sorority or fraternity. So, I followed suit. Problem number one…

The thing that they never tell you is that some girls…don’t make the cut. I was one of those. After parading around campus going to the different houses for little get to know you parties, each house makes a list of those they ask back. These girls I didn’t know. These girls I met for one night. Slashed my name off the list of “wanted.” And, yeah, those cold waters pierced my skin in a not so pleasant way.

Except, the amazing part? God turns things around. I can still feel the sunshine, the crunch of grass beneath a blanket covered in books and my pink Bible laid open.  See, I used all this extra time to soak up and wrestle with God instead of running around with a sorority. He brought me  further along in the journey of learning how to turn toward Him instead of clutching some of my idols (success, money, my plans). He started me on a continual journey of learning to look to Him for who I am rather than what others say because then I can play in the puddles and if the water comes rushing, I will not be shaken.  Because see, He wants me, I’m on His list, and in the end…I am His delight.

Ready to put on your rain boots and go play in some puddles with me?

Because I know that I don’t want to miss out on some fun because of the fear of getting wet…do you?

*prompted to serve up a shot of faith by the Faith Barista 🙂

What IS working?

Sure, I can go through my list of what has NOT been working (speaking rashly, going to bed way too late turned not getting up early to go running, getting places on time, being on the computer too much, and the list goes on), but where does that get me? Usually…discouraged, frustrated, trying to do it myself. Not a good place.

So, in the midst of my crying out, God gave me a little reminder tucked away in my journal written in orange highlighter:

And that,right there, is where I’m choosing to turn my focus today.

What’s working: journaling, days at work, seeing joy in the little things, adventures

From here, I’m going to keep finding out what’s working, do some more of that, fill in the gaps where I can, and mostly lean on Him to give me the strength because He sure does tell me that I can do nothing without Him.

And while I’m at it since I’m a words girl…I’ll keep singing:

“Cause even in the dark you can still see the light”

“I don’t want to go one more day without your all consuming passion inside of me. Just okay is not enough.”

“It’s joy unspeakable”

“Hey now, this is my desire, consume me like a fire cause I just want something beautiful to touch me.”

So, how are you doing today? What’s working for you? What are you listening to?