A Break from the Bruising

Pastor Michael A. Walrond Jr. says, we "need to celebrate the breaks in the bruising."

Everything is not as I'd want it to be in my life right now. The past few months have been physically and emotionally exhausting, and I am just now catching up on mental and physical rest. I spend as much time in bed at home as possible to make up for the rest that was lost in January and February. I am also very mindful of what I choose to spend my energy on. In order for me to take advantage of this break from the bruising of life, I need to allow myself to heal. This means saying my favorite word:

"No."

"No, I can't make that meeting."

"No, I can't help out in your midday chapel service."

"No, I can't stay in this class because there's an energy that's upsetting my spirit."

"No, I can't come out tonight."

"No...Because I am celebrating the breaks in the bruising!"

In this break from the bruising, I'm learning to embrace my quirks--my idiosyncrasies--those unique demands and desires that make me who I am. I am the only one who knows what's best for me, and my healing is my celebration. My retreat from the world is my celebration. Even while everyone is trying to force me out of my shell--trying to get me to do things that are uncharacteristic of me, disingenuous, and inauthentic--I choose peace and solemnity as my celebration.

I hope this break lasts long enough for me to

reap the benefits of my rest. I pray that I'll be able to enjoy the products of the hard soul-work I've done over the past few months. Most of all, I desire to find freedom and a deeper level of discernment during this break from the bruising. This is my celebration.

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