Within You

The Two Questions I Asked God One Day

It was October 2018 and one month prior to taking my sabbatical. I sensed we were approaching the end of our chapter in Arizona and that the momentum was about to pick up on a potential move to Florida.

During my quiet time that rainy morning, I settled into a chair outside on the covered patio. The rain had lowered the temperature by 20 degrees. Autumn was coming to the desert.

In my mind’s eye, I quickly scanned twelve years, recalling all that had taken place: my work, Jess’ work, family events, meals shared with friends – remembering it all, the challenges and joys that had become part of our life story.

A question formed in my mind, two questions actually. I wrote them in my journal and posed them to God:

Well, God is an expert editor because I quickly found myself writing another question that replaced the other two:

What did you develop in me?

This question produced a different answer. A list of thirty items to be exact.

30 Answers

Here is a sampling from that list of thirty:

Self-acceptance
Acceptance overall
Clarity
Courage
Compassion
Creativity
Love
The ability to listen
Forgiveness
Understanding
Letting go, as a practice
Embodying my purpose
Connecting moment to moment
Expansion
Openness

Notice that the things on this list are less about: Doing, Accomplishing, or Directing and have more to do with: Becoming, Receiving, and Allowing.

None of these happened because I had a goal, plan, or project around it, though perhaps there was a level of intention for a portion of the list.

Now You Can See It

When you are planted in a new place or situation, you wonder what will come of it. It’s beyond what you can envision and impossible to comprehend it all in real-time. Only when you look back do you realize: You have grown.

Whether you view this as God’s work, life itself, or both, the main point is this: Amazing things are occurring inside of you, through every experience, and every period of your life.

There’s a peacefulness in this because as you move into new experiences, you can be assured that things will develop naturally. All your efforts, missteps, gains, and losses have the potential to serve you, to help you become more of yourself and even, to shine.

This Week’s Call To Action:

What change are you approaching this year? For example: an assignment that you’re about to wrap up or a new job you’ve accepted; a geographic move you’re considering; a change in relationship status; or perhaps a milestone birthday on the way.

As you look back on the period of time that is now coming to completion, consider this question:

• What was developed in you (the inner qualities that were brought forth, cultivated, or strengthened)?

I’ve been planning to share today’s message with you long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since that’s a huge part of our reality this year, we can add another question to the one above. Even though the full answer won’t be known until later, what do you notice already?

• What is being cultivated within you during this unique time?

Now imagine it’s a future point when this health crisis has ended and you are looking back and answering this question with certainty:

• What was strengthened inside you?

Write down your answers to the three questions above.

How does it feel to read the words and phrases on your list? Perhaps it produces a range of emotions. May it also affirm your awareness that whatever the circumstances, you are growing.