Avalanche & Air Pockets
I was sitting on the couch one night and I thought of what to do in an avalanche. Weird? I know, but whatever, I just roll with it. If you’re ever buried in snow, do you know the first thing you need to do is make an air pocket? As big as you can.
This week was a hard one for me and I’m glad it’s over. You know when you have a wonderful experience or something amazing happens, then you have this let-down? That was my week. Last week I shared a little about our no-words-can-capture trip to Lake Tahoe, then celebrating our Rene’ turning 28…still don’t know how that happened.
I had to physically recover from the travel and time change, but the emotions is what kicked my butt. Do you ever feel a sadness that seeps into everything you do? I miss those days when I could just keep going like the energizer bunny. I struggle with the daily implications of MS and Lupus and how I need to reformat my life. When I am emotionally down, everything is harder. Show of hands if you get it?
AN AIR POCKET….when we are being crushed by all that life has heaped on us. Some good, some bad, some indifferent but all stuff we need to do or deal with. God cares about our avalanches. He provides ways to ride it out and survive.
Sometimes our air pockets could look like a nap or food, a friend, a hug, a chill day or hour, a soul-filling conversation or walk in nature. There are many ways to create an air pocket in our lives, we just need to be intentional. When panic wants to set in and we stand like a deer in the headlights, we need to make the choice to wave our arms around and make a pocket.
In I Kings 18 Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal in an epic “My God Is Bigger Than Your God” battle.” It has all the makings of a great movie: a crazy mob, gang of bad guys, taunting, the supernatural and victory for the good guy. Old Eli saw God move in a miraculous way. Then in chapter 19 Elijah goes into the desert to die. He crawls under a bush and says: “I’ve had it! Take my life.” Have you ever said that? I have. Elijah falls asleep then an angel wakes him and tells him to eat, twice…air pocket.
Even Jesus went away to be by Himself. He created time (air pocket) to refuel, reset, recalibrate and renew. Emotions are hard and fickle. They can change on a dime. That’s why we should not let our emotions lead our lives, we will be tossed around like a toy boat in the ocean.
If Jesus did it, we need to do it. Take a moment to feel your sadness, interview it: why do I feel this way? Then be intentional on how to deal with it.
To balance this out, I am not talking about depression, that may require more than saying I’m not letting my anger or sadness run my life. Talk to someone if you think your emotional or mental state is more than normal sadness.
If you are feeling crushed by life I pray that you intentionally find a way to create an air pocket in your life. Psalm 46:1 says: “God is our refuge and strength an ever-present help in time of trouble.” You are worth it, you are seen and loved.
All my love ~ Jodi xoxo