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It's Perfectly Acceptable

Today began like any other day. 

My alarm clock sounded and I hit snooze, twice. 

Out of bed, dog out, breakfast made, coffee perking.

In the back of my mind I know today is different than I thought it would be 9 months ago. 

Today I should be boarding an airplane bound for Atlanta.

I am not boarding an air plane, I am not headed to Atlanta. 

Today I should be officially beginning my in person classes for Spiritual Direction Certification. 

I am not meeting in person rather I am obsessively checking the zoom time so I don't miss it because of the time difference. 

Today began like any other day, but today is different. 

In one way or another we have all gone through significant changes since 2020 began.

In one way or another our lives are different now than we thought they would be 9 months ago.

It's perfectly acceptable to lament if things that were supposed to happen didn't, or didn't happen how you imagined.

It's perfectly acceptable to rejoice if good things have happened in ways you didn't imagine they could.

It's perfectly acceptable to be where you are and show those emotions, whatever they are, to others in your life.

I might not be getting on a plane, I might not be spending the week in Atlanta, but my journey toward spiritual direction certification is continuing on. This is one more twist in the road I've already been on. This is one more day to listen for God in the midst of the new and different.

Today began like any other day, find space to live out God's promise to you. The promise that whether you are in the darkest of valleys, on the highest of mountains, or somewhere on the road in between God's love surrounds you, Christ's peace enfolds, and the Holy Spirit guides your way. 

It's perfectly acceptable to be where you are, lamenting or rejoicing, heart full of hope or overtaken with sorrow. It's perfectly acceptable to begin today, just like any other day knowing that where you are God is there too.


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