Queen Elsa was right: Let It Go!

Having been retired for 28 months now, it's probably time for me to stop talking about it! But you can probably tell, from all my talking about it, that it's been a challenge. I absolutely loved what I did as a teacher and elementary media specialist. It was fun and different every day. Where else can you dress in silly hats on your morning tv broadcast, make slime with first graders, have engaging lunch bunch discussions with older students, improve tech skills beyond what you thought possible, and more! Plus work with dedicated adults with the same mission to improve the lives of the youth of our country. Makes me tired just thinking about it!

So it wasn't the busyness that I missed, or even the fun. I think it's just the purpose and meaning that it gave my life. Maybe even my identity. Teaching can be a hard profession to leave. Yet leave I did. And I've prayed every day since then for the Lord to show me what's next. However, I think I was still holding onto my identity of the past. Once a teacher, always a teacher! How was the Lord going to show me new roads if I was still steering my car in the old direction? I needed to surrender the past and the fear of letting go. What might the future hold if I wasn't a teacher or the Library Lady any more?  Jesus take the wheel! 

The following is a quote that has had great impact on me in this transition time: 

Especially the second line: there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. My teaching and library work, while loaded with fond memories, really was no longer meaningful. Note I didn't say important, or impactful. It was and is! But it's in the past. It is not where my security should be. It is not the movement and change that I knew the Lord had in mind for me. Look up and forward! There's the life and security I was longing for. How could I know what the Lord would show me if I was always looking behind? Yes, we teachers don't lose the "eyes in the back of our heads" when we retire, but the Lord said to keep those eyes closed! Look ahead. Let go of the wheel to see where He wants to steer me! Freedom!

As I've been able to do that, new groups of friends have come into my life, new activities, and areas to grow spiritually and share that growth. That's where the focus is now! Life has truly become a new exciting adventure. There is new life in the movement. New strength in the change. In the days to come I plan to expand on the changes to encourage you to break out/move on/steer into the new course for your life. Have you sensed the same thing? Ready for a new season and adventure? Let's do this together! (I can almost hear Tom Brady yelling his famous "Let's Go!" at this point!).

I look forward to sharing more along this exciting adventure of faith. I read a quote about the Lord being our great Travel Agent and we're the tourists he is looking out for. He's identified our routes, bookings and destinations. Let's trust Him and enjoy the journey...and stay grounded, friends!

 Happy New Year!

It's almost 2 weeks in, but we can still say it, right? It's still a time of reflection and making resolutions. Or changing the ones you made January 1 to be more realistic! Kind of like the new Weight Watchers ads where the people are in in line returning their overly-hopeful goals that were set. Swapping them for something more realistic. (oh, like maybe losing 1-2 pounds a week instead of 10 by the weekend?) BTW, I'm a Lifetime WW member, but am not preaching it on this post!

So as we reflect on what we'd like to achieve in the new year, we usually look at the past. Sometimes the past week/month/year/life seems like such a mess, we're rather overwhelmed by what we can change or want to accomplish. I wrote the same general goals every year and usually quit by February, so for a couple years I've saved the time and paper and just put 1. Live as well as I can, with as much joy as I can, with Jesus. That covers it! And it's enough.

Do you ever just feel like you're in line for soup at the Soup Nazi's (Seinfeld fans know this, you can also check it online) take-out and not sure what you want in life, or what you want to change/do/feel? Your anxiety level increases as the line moves and you near the Soup Nazi, hoping you order correctly or you'll blow your order and miss out on the soup. How about instead, you become the Soup Nazi, and everyone in line is one of the problems you're facing. You address each one confidently, either serving (accepting) it or shouting "Next!" to the ones you want to go away. Those messes are simply shooed out the door, never to be served again. You're ready for something better to come along. Become the happy person who looks at your failures and disappointments face to face and declare "Next" to them, as you dismiss them to not hound you anymore.

As we look at the New Year, we can't move forward if we can't let go of the past. We won't recognize the new if we're living and dwelling on the old. Quit processing ancient history so that you can press on to living now. This isn't to say that you'll forget the past entirely. Just what is so painful that it is holding you back. Quite often I've found that it's something or someone I need to forgive. To move beyond that wrong so I can face the future with a new hope. When you forgive, you let go of the hope of a better past. It's over...quit letting it spoil today and the days ahead. As is written in the book of Joel 2:25, the Lord will give much joy to more than make up for "the years the locusts have eaten".

Have you had a few locusts in your life? Maybe a whole swarm or plague? Then it's time to turn it over to the Lord. You can be whole and new right now. Reclaim what the past has "eaten". Say "Next" to the sin oppressing you as you send it packing out the door. Surrendering to Jesus is the best "resolution" you can ever make. He's here to give you a new locust-free life! Choose to follow Him as you enter 2023.

Your New Year can start today, friends! Start today to be grounded in Him! And Happy New Year!