When I was a little girl, I had, and still have, a very curious mind. I would wander off when my mom took me to the store, and then would feel the surge of panic set in when I couldn’t find her. On several occasions, I remember my name being called out on the loud speaker of the store saying to report to the service desk immediately, where I would find my mom standing there, not very happy with me. She always told me if I became lost, to stay in one place, and she could easily find me.
Contrary to what she instructed me to do, I never stood in one place—I immediately started to search up and down the aisles for her, panicked, my eyes flooding with tears, my heart pounding, thinking I would never see her again. Even though she would be extremely angry at me at the customer service desk, I had such a sense of relief when I finally did find her. I remember the searching feeling like it was an eternity, feeling lost, all by myself in that great big store, with rows and rows of items, strangers around me and not being able to find my mom. I just couldn’t stay still, I had to keep moving.
This past week, I was feeling a bit lost again, coming off the tragedies of multiple mass shootings in our schools, grocery stores, and hospitals, COVID cases rising again, the ongoing war in Ukraine, formula shortage crisis (my Grandson, baby Jack is greatly affected by this), and the rising inflation in our country. Uncertainty is here, along with the heart ache of those who are experiencing great loss and grief. I find myself moving again like I was in that grocery store many many years ago, feeling distracted, anxious and trying to find my way back. I remembered my mom telling me, Marygrace—when you are lost, stay in one place and I will find you.
Maybe that’s the key—stillness in the midst of all of this chaos and suffering around me. Can I allow myself to become still? To come back to myself, to find God’s goodness deep within to help weather the storm that we are all facing today. I gave myself permission every day this past week to just be. To settle into what is still good and hopeful in my day, and to just be in the moment that I was in. I challenge you to do the same this week…find five minutes to go from doing to just being. Just sit and ask your mind and body to do absolutely nothing at all, except to breathe, and see what it is like. Set your timer for five minutes and be curious as to how this actually feels! Notice the space that is created in that moment and your nervous system settling. This won’t solve all of the problems listed above, but there is potential to feel a bit more grounded to weather through them. The power of stillness in the midst of chaos, to feel the dust settle, you may actually feel some relief—like you are finally found.