Welcome to spring! Many of us joyfully await the arrival of this most pleasant season. The arrival of spring brings a new birth of life. The sound of birds chirping away, the warmth of sunshine, and the sensation of a gentle breeze are experienced. Some of us may have other experiences which return every year, reminding us of spring’s return. Mine happens to be the woodpecker which makes its return known by ‘tapping’ on the tin around our chimney. When we take time to look around us, we see new life. Flowers are beginning to pop up from the earth; new buds are showing up at the tips of tree branches; birds are busy building their nests; more insects are beginning to return. LIFE begins anew!
As spring arrives, many Christians (Catholics and some Protestants) are in the season of Lent. During Lent, these Christians have been in a 40-day period of penance and grieving. Most of these Christians take seriously the purpose of Lent; which is to consider what Jesus Christ did for our own salvation. To get the most spiritual benefit from these 40 days, it is important to examine our own heart; as well as our own life. Psalm 51:10 sums it up nicely: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and RENEW a steadfast spirit within me” (NASB).
And just as we end the solemn season of Lent with the celebration of Easter, we end the season of winter (nature’s season of death) with the arrival of spring (new life). I encourage you to take time to consider what this seasonal transition symbolizes in your own life. Last week I wrote about making yourself a priority. This season lends itself well to be our yearly reminder to examine our life. If you journal, look back through your writings. What have you written which seems to be repeated several times? Take time to simply ‘be’ with your thoughts and memories. What comes to mind in regards to which areas you are pleased, content, or disappointed? Now take time to consider each of these areas, with the goal of making yourself a top priority.
- Within the areas you are pleased, is there any area in which you need to move forward into the next level?
- An example may be the area of stewardship. Maybe you make a monetary donation to a favorite charity. Maybe the next level is donating your time to a charity. It is generally easiest for us to make a monetary donation. However, making a donation of our time and energy takes much more dedication, scheduling, and giving of our physical self.
- Within the areas you are content, is there any area in which you may want to make adjustments in order to move it to the ‘pleased’ category?
- An example may be the area of family. Many of us become ‘content’ with the relationship we have with our family. Of course, when everything seems to be going well, we are getting along, the proverbial cogs of our household ‘wheel’ are turning efficiently, etc., we generally do not take time to consider making any adjustments. But, what if we fine tune an area here or there? Maybe it is making a point to have regular family talks (or more of them). Maybe it is setting aside time away from electronic devices, and spending time on a scavenger hunt? Be creative. Be purposeful. When we are content with something, there is always room for change, growth, and/or improvement.
- Within the areas you are disappointed, what are your options?
- This is the area in which we truly need to be renewed. It will be different for each of us. It will be dependent upon our individual life experiences, as well as where we currently are in our current life and/or season of life. There are so many areas in which I could provide an example. So many, in fact, that there is not enough space on today’s blog page. Therefore, I will provide a few of the most common ones.
- An example may be your physical well-being. Consider whether you need to increase your physical movement (i.e. exercise), eat a healthier diet, ensure you are getting a good amount of rest/sleep, or protect yourself from harm.
- An example may be your spiritual well-being. Consider whether you need to read more scripture, schedule prayer time, allot time for silence/meditation, spend time with people with your same beliefs or faith, search out resources (people, media, church) which will nourish this side of you.
- An example may be your mental well-being. Consider what you are allowing into your mind (entertainment genres, negative or positive thoughts); what are you allowing others to say to you, or allowing what they say get to you? Are you taking time to journal, pray, meditate, relax, play, laugh, and/or simply ‘be’? It is very important to be aware of your thoughts and feelings. When/if you are in a place of feeling ultimately empty, unsure of why you are feeling depressed or drained emotionally, know that there is hope and help. You must reach out to others; even when you feel you cannot; even when you feel there is nothing anyone can do to help you; even when you simply want to be alone to hopefully figure it out.
- This is the area in which we truly need to be renewed. It will be different for each of us. It will be dependent upon our individual life experiences, as well as where we currently are in our current life and/or season of life. There are so many areas in which I could provide an example. So many, in fact, that there is not enough space on today’s blog page. Therefore, I will provide a few of the most common ones.
Life is an ebb and flow of seasons. As we journey through one season, it is beneficial for us to consider what is happening within us. Then, as we find ourselves arriving in our next season, consider what we know from our previous seasons. What will we allow to die in one season, in order to bring about NEW LIFE within us and for us in the current season?
May God shine His light, love, mercy, grace, and peace upon you and your loved ones.
Additional information:
Those of us who experience difficulty in obtaining and/or maintaining a positive mental well-being, may want to consider all of our options. I encourage you to reach outside of yourself; go beyond your comfort zone; take the first step to support yourself, and to help yourself. YOU ARE WORTHY to have good mental health (which will look different for each one of us). Therefore, I am providing a list of potential options for those of us who may need to reach out for some guidance and assistance. Consider contacting:
(Disclaimer: I provide the links below in an effort to provide my readers with at least one resource which may benefit them; I am not responsible for the content provided on these websites, nor from anyone connected with them. I have not utilized most of these services/contacts, and therefore, do not necessarily endorse all the statements on the websites, nor their resources. If you utilize any of these resources, you do so at your own discretion.).
- your primary doctor,
- your insurance company to confirm your options for seeking a counselor, l
- community resources which offer free services or other assistance (below are the few which I am aware of; I encourage you to do research in your own state/city),
- Catholic Charities by state: https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/find-help
- Lutheran Community Services – Northwest: https://lcsnw.org/get-help/
- Lutheran Community Services: do a search for “Lutheran Community Services”, and then include the state in which you live.
- other resources for your mental health: https://www.iwanttochangemylife.org/
- addiction resources:
- 12-Step resources:
- AA – https://www.aa.org/
- OA – https://oa.org/
- Al-Anon – https://al-anon.org/
- Non-12-step resources:
- in the case of having a feeling of imminent danger to yourself:
- reach out to someone (family member, friend, co-worker, neighbor, etc.),
- make a phone call to the suicide hotline: 1-800-273-8255 or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/,
- go immediately to your nearest emergency room, or
- call 911.
REMEMBER: YOU MATTER! YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS! I care about you! Please reach out for your own benefit, or the benefit of your child(ren), spouse, partner, loved one.