I woke up in the warm comfort of my bed and debated with myself all the reasons to stay home. "You need to do laundry. Those dishes aren't going to do themselves. You need to prepare your paperwork for the IRS. Your husband is sick. You should stay home with him. There's a reason they call it Lazy Sunday..." But I convinced myself to get dressed and headed out the door.
As I opened the front door, I was greeted by the unfaltering rain and gray overcast sky. "You just spent a half hour curling your hair. Don't want your efforts to go to waste, do you?" I paused for a moment, and held my breath as I scurried to my car.
Water began collecting on the interstate. Some cars slowed down, some cars sped up. "Geez. Let's try not to get into an accident. You should have stayed home in bed."
I make it to the church with fifteen minutes to spare. As I approach the entrance, an attendant flashes his sign at me: LOT IS FULL. "Ugh! Now you have to turn around and park at the satellite parking lot. You're not going to make it on time. Might as well go home." But a spot becomes available thanks to a departing mini-van.
I grab my umbrella and decide to walk to the church. I can make it if I try. I begin to follow the sidewalk from the satellite parking lot to the main road in the rain, only watching my feet as I go. Suddenly, the sidewalk ends, and I find myself halted in my tracks, the threat of puddled clay mud laying before me. " See? It wasn't meant to be. Just turn around and go home." As I turn, the church shuttle stops and the driver asks if I need a ride to the church. I hop on and thank the patrons on the bus for stopping to pick me up.
When I finally make it to the church, my friends have saved me a seat. I sing and let the music fill me up with hope. I sit and listen to the sermon: "A Wise Man's Heart is Guarded by the Sword of Truth." And one thing resonates with me above all others: Proverbs 18:14 - A person's spirit can endure sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?
As I sat and listened to the pastor's message about how one's heart is the vault to one's soul, I realized that, sometimes, I am my own worst enemy. I am the one who doubts my passion above all others. I am the one who has made excuses for holding back. And yet, I am the one who yearns to rekindle my passion with art the most. I just needed to hear the message.
"Love is always open arms. If you close your arms about love,
you will find that you are left holding only yourself."
you will find that you are left holding only yourself."
- Leo F. Buscaglia
I'm glad you joined us that day! You are always welcome to the seat next to us!
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