“We don’t like the way reality is now and therefore wish it would go away fast. but what we find … is that nothing ever goes way until it has taught us what we need to know. if we run a hundred miles an hour to the other end of the continent in order to get away from the obstacle we find the very same problem waiting for us when we arrive. it just keeps returning with new names, forms, manifestations until we learn whatever it has to teach us about where we are separating ourselves from reality, how we are pulling back instead of opening up, closing down instead of allowing ourselves to experience fully whatever we encounter, without hesitating or retreating into ourselves.”  Pema Chödrön

“The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ^‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.’ But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.”  Jonah 1:1-3

Moving From the Head to the Heart

• What is there in your present reality that you wish “would go away fast?” Are you attempting to run from it like Jonah did?
• Are you waiting for some unpleasant, persistent “reality” in your life to “go away”, while God is waiting for you to learn from it “what you need to know?”
• Can you choose insight from God over comfort? Can you embrace the anxiety and submit to the waiting, the frustration – even the pain, as God’s gift to you?

Abba, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change … but not just to accept them, but to embrace and submit to them, and to you, as in love you form me.

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For More: When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön

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The “Daily Riches” from RicherByFar are for your encouragement as you seek after God, and as he seeks after you. My goal is to provide you with something of uncommon value each day in 400 words or less. I hope you’ll follow my blog, and share it with others. I appreciate your interest!  –  Bill (Psalm 90:14)