Secrets to Swimming With a Shiver of Sharks

Sweet sun syrup drenching my skin. Laughter wafts through the air as frigid water explodes overhead and unexpectedly falls in torrents over the guests. Beautiful melodic languages dance between humans. Pure and simple delight abounds in this moment.

I am perched on the edge of a magnificent fountain savoring this precious moment.   I am being rocked into a trans-like state by all that is good and right around me.  I exhale.  My heart is full and I am content.

Like a loudspeaker inside my heart, my mind suddenly booms forth the fact that this is ONLY a momentary reprieve from the shiver of sharks that have been my constant companion these last six weeks. 

This has been a "season" of learning the secrets of swimming with a shiver of sharks. Some of the sharks are named "Disappointment", "Doubt",  and "Discouragement".  If you have never swam with sharks, you probably don't know that they circle their prey before deciding if and when to take a bite.  They can rough you up through their curiosity by bumping into you and knocking you around a bit before deciding to taste you.  They like the cover of cloudy water. Their mealtimes are the early morning or as the sun is setting.  

Unfortunately Disappointment, Doubt and Discouragement do the same thing.  I have found their feeding times are when I lack clarity and are either exhausted or not fully awake.  These past six weeks I have been repeatedly peppered with plans going awry; everything from canceled bike rides; to my car being hit and undriveable; to no trip to India in August.  The disappointments have been multi-leveled and have come fast and furious on some days.  During times of physical and emotional exhaustion, I have been stippled with doubts about who I am and what I am called to do. Often in the middle of the night, I have been awoken only to realize that I am securely tucked in by a blanket of discouragement at the realization of my circumstances. With each bump and blow from  this shiver of ravenous sharks, I have discovered three secrets.  These have allowed me not to be consumed by my predators. 

Suddenly, my camera captures "Flying Child". I hear my Abba whisper, "Watch her."  I follow her through my lense. Her initial reaction when the water first exploded over her was one of electrifying shock.  (Oh how well I know this feeling.) Seconds afterwards, a giggle erupts from her belly and she takes off flying. Her clothes are drenched.  Her hair is matted to her face.  Her lips are moving.  She has chosen to embrace this moment as a gift.  She looks as if she is singing. Instantly, I am aware that she knows the same secrets that I do:
#1  I am not in charge of anything,
#2  I can choose my response.
#3  I get to choose my heart attitude.

Then my Creator softly announces, "I chose this moment for her and I have chosen all of those unexpected moments for you.  I hold you in the palm of my hand and nothing can touch you except what I have orchestrated." 

May you embrace the unexpected difficult moments in your life with the realization that YOU are NOT in charge, but... YOU do get to choose YOUR response and YOUR heart attitude. 

Together, may we choose wisely.


Until We Chat Again,
The Plank-Eyed Girl