In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, I decided to read one of my favorite writings of his: Oh, The Places You’ll Go. To a girl who just quit her job, moved to a new city, and started a new job…this book is quite perfect. It’s light and funny, and yet so depressingly honest. It’s kind of everywhere. And that’s where I’m at today. I’m sitting in a chair, staring at a screen, but really, I’m everywhere.
I’m experiencing new things, learning new faces, sharing new stories. I’m driving back and forth between my comfortable old life and the new life filled with uncertainties. I’m beginning a new mission, with a focus and passion. I’m remembering the past nine months and how I’m forever changed because of the people and experiences. I have brains. I have feet. And I’m everywhere.
I don’t really like being everywhere. It makes my checking account, my head, and my heart hurt. And maybe this is for a week or so. Or maybe, this is the way it’s always been. The 300 square feet of my new humble abode confine me to myself and my thoughts. Maybe I’ve always been everywhere. Maybe I’ve never really been present in one place. Perhaps multitasking and overscheduling myself isn’t good for me or those around me.
But what’s the alternative? Sit, twiddling my thumbs just waiting around? I hate wait. And I know patience is a virtue. But it seems to me everyone is just waiting. Dr. Seuss says this:
“The Waiting Place
…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
…
No!
That’s not for you!”
I think I dislike wait because I equate waiting with staying. And I hate staying. Staying reminds me of being stagnant. I love rivers but I don’t love ponds. In rivers, the water is constantly moving, but not so with a pond. When water stays it gets pee-warm and grows nasty algae. It’s the same for people. We were not meant to stay. Our cells grow and change and replicate and replace themselves. Our physical bodies change and adapt. They do not stay the same. And our minds do not always stay the same. As we learn and grow and experience new things, we change. It’s amazingly beautiful, but sometimes scary. Ask any person who’s packed up their entire life into boxes. Not staying is a scary big mess at times. It’s overwhelming the amount of emotions that flood a person when he or she realizes people were not meant to stay. Excitement, anger, fear, sadness. My sister #2 recently told me “Every person at some point in their life needs to learn how to leave.” Not staying sometimes means leaving. Not staying always means moving. It is not good to stay in the same place. I am not talking about geographical location, but instead our relationships, mind, and faith walk.
I love people, especially those close friends and family. But I do not want to stay where I am. I want to get better at showing grace. I want to love deeper. I want to share more honestly. I want to give more. I want to forgive quicker. I want to keep moving in a direction of unity and peace.
I love learning and I do not want to stop learning. I believe knowledge is power…and like Oprah once said, “When you know better, you do better.” I want to keep moving as I read and debate and listen. I may have a college degree, but I do not want to stay put. I want to learn more each day.
I love God, but I am not where I want to be. I believe God loves me just the way I am. But I also believe He loves me too much to leave me the way I am. Because I am dark and twisty, selfish and prideful, a person who has broken every commandment. I do not always show a clear picture of who Jesus is. I do not always bring the kingdom of heaven here to earth. I do not always speak up for those with out a voice. I do not always give grace. I do not always show mercy. And because of that, I do not want to stay just the way I am.
Everywhere is all around me. The possibilities are everywhere. And things will happen. Forever things will be changing. I have decided to not wait or stay. As Dr. Seuss suggests, I want to just go right along and start happening too.
So today I’m everywhere, and maybe that’s not where I should be, but at least I’m moving.
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