In all honesty, my first response when facing off with a new challenge is still “I don’t think I can handle this.”
Mentally, I start looking for the exit sign, mapping out an escape route that will let me slip out the back door unnoticed so that I can sidestep any difficulties.
It’s a question of endurance, I suppose. Do I have what it takes to stick it out for this hard thing and the next one and the one after that? It never feels like I do.
Thankfully, I am surrounded by support. In fact, I’ve never been so rooted in community as I am in this moment. In one of my precious community circles, (thanks
for continuing to sing the praises of circling up, circling often) we are reading, meditating, praying over one chapter each month.This slow pace allows me to really luxuriate in the words. To savor the meaning of each sentence. To indulge in the wisdom imbued within every line.
I’m especially thankful for the extended time to dig into this text because the second and third sentences already have me stumped: