Spring Time

There's this song that I can't seem to get out of my head. It starts with the lyrics "It's always like Spring Time with you, making all things new..."

Imagine that. Spring time. Always. What would that be like? Spring time is such a season filled with hope. It means winter is over. It means warmth and light and new life are only moments away. It means the sting of cold, brutal weather is finished. It means beauty and change and joy are around the corner. What would it be like if life was ALWAYS like that? The promise of hope restored. The overwhelming relief that the harsh winter is over. Can you imagine the feeling of new life all the time?

I've found myself in a bit of a "winter" for a while now. Things have been really difficult for me. My identity has been stripped. My reality has been reset. Things have been really hard. But as the seasons change and spring is all around, I am full of continued, never ending, renewed hope. It's all around me. It's in the trees. It's coming up from the ground. It is undeniable. Things are changing. The earth is screaming "WINTER IS OVER, LET US CELEBRATE!" And for the first time in a while, I join in the celebration of new life. Of promises fulfilled. Of seasons changing. Isn't that the best thing? After EVERY winter there is a Spring time. Winter will never go on forever. I know that for me, there have been moments where it's felt like it might. There were moments where I wasn't sure if winter would ever end. If the brutal, harsh, cold, dark, painful, lonely winter would ever come to an end. But God, in all of his faithfulness, designed our winters to be followed by spring. New life. FULL of beauty. And light. And hope.

What season are you in? Are you like me, coming out of a winter? Take heart, spring time is here.

Vulnerability

What happens in your stomach when you hear the word 'Vulnerability'? Do you cringe? Cry? Look for the nearest exit? Withdraw? Hide behind the walls you've put up?
I just watched an incredible video by a woman named Brene Brown on Ted Talks titled "The power of vulnerability." Mind blowing. This woman, a Research-Storyteller (as she calls herself) was doing some research on shame, and stumbled upon a few things... to get the whole story, check out the video here.
A few things REALLY struck me, and I thought I'd share...
-You deconstruct shame with vulnerability.
Brown found that people who had a deep sense of love and belonging were those who believed they were WORTHY of love and belonging. These people had the courage to be imperfect, compassion to be kind to themselves first, and vulnerability. They fully embraced who they were and knew that what made them vulnerable made them beautiful.
-Brown found that while vulnerability is the core of shame and fear and worthiness, it is also the birth place of joy and belonging and love.
She had SO many other amazing points, but these two... they really rocked me.

As I reflected on my own struggles and my own story, I realized just how true this is. When I fully embraced vulnerability, shame and fear and rejection were replaced by joy and love and belonging. There is immense freedom in vulnerability. And yes it's scary, but when you begin to fully embrace who you are, and when you are real about it, the shame is deconstructed. It sort of just vanishes.
I used to be paralyzed by shame. It dictated everything I said and did. I lived behind walls and walls and walls of shame. But as I began to be honest and real with my life and my story, the walls came down. I'm a changed person. I've found freedom, and I truly believe that without being real and vulnerable with my story, I would still be living behind the walls of shame.

I believe vulnerability looks different for every person. It's not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. Maybe it's being real with the people in your life for the first time. Maybe it's confessing to a friend. Maybe it's opening up to your husband or wife. But I know for me, I don't want to waste another moment. When God calls me to be vulnerable (which happens a LOT), I want to act in obedience.
Is there an are in your life that God is calling you to be vulnerable with? How will you respond?

Things that I love about this season:

Fall scented candles
The rain
Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bread
Rain boots
ANY boots
Cozy blankets
Leaves changing color
Pumpkins
Slippers
Jogs in the rain
Fall-ish decorations
Chamomile Mango tea
Dutch Bros. Peppermint hot chocolate (my FAVE!!!)
Scarves
Umbrellas
French Press

This is the best season of all.

What do YOU love about this season??