#wanderinginthedesert

[b33s4w]

Sketch of the day

[danielletimmons]

Wandering Aimlessly In The Desert

I don’t usually discuss religion with others because I deem it to be fiercely private, but I couldn’t help but share something my pastor recently preached about. In Exodus, the Jewish people were led by Moses into the desert and, for a few reasons, arrived in the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering aimlessly. Regardless of your belief system, you have to admit that’s some story.  During those years, they complained; they worshiped false gods; and even suggested going back into enslavement in Egypt.  Can you imagine what it must be like to endure hardship for 4 decades?

At times, we’ve all felt like we’ve wandered aimlessly through our own personal desert.  Your desert may be work, a relationship, being a parent, being a working parent, or something that lives deep, down inside you may not even be able to articulate.  Like the Jewish people did in ancient times, you’re entitled to moan, gripe and blame others for where you are.   We all do it. Somehow, it just makes us feel better to verbalize how miserable we really are.  But what did complaining get the Jewish people?

It certainly didn’t get them anywhere – at least not fast.  In fact, some might argue it’s partly why they were stuck in the desert so long.  So while it’s ok to complain and blame others for where you are in life, remember that you have the power to change things.  

I’m a believer that most of us – most of the time – have free will to make choices about where we were, where we are and where we’re going.  Have you ever thought about that one decision you’ve made which shifted your entire core of being?  When I graduated Virginia Tech, I was accepted into the Peace Corps. For personal reasons, I declined that offer, and instead, got married where I began career in Marketing.  Had I accepted the Peace Corps assignment, what would my life look like today? What deserts would I have encountered? Would I still work in Marketing? Would I still have three wonderful children?  I didn’t know it at the time, but that decision set me on a path that led me to where I am today.  

While I’m fortunate that I’ve got it pretty good, I have questions about decisions I’ve made along the way and how they helped me or perhaps put me in the desert.  When I feel like I’m in the desert, that’s when I feel helpless, and I find myself acting like I’m a victim of circumstance.  In a few instances, it was just my crappy luck. But if I’m honest, it’s usually decisions I’ve made that put me in the middle of my own proverbial desert.   But the real question to ask is not why you’re there, but how do you get out of it?

When we’re stuck and floundering in bad situations, why don’t we move quickly to make a change? Because carving a different path for ourselves can be intimidating. It may mean a move, a career shift, a relationship change and many other countless situations.  Sometimes, the fear of the unknown and what could happen paralyzes us to the point where we make no change at all.  This fear causes us to accept situations that are intolerable, inferior and even degrading to what we deserve.  

And important people in your life will encourage you to accept the status quo because they’re afraid for you. Here’s the unabashed truth – if you feel like your life can be better if you made a change, do it. Don’t wait. Do it now. It will mean being brave. And sometimes pulling yourself up by your boot strap, or putting one foot in front of the other during the period of change.  But shaking things up in your life to guide you toward happiness is never a bad thing.   I’ve had to do this several times in my life, and each time I did it, I came out feeling stronger and invincible.  Changing to get out of the desert is admirable and becomes an example to your kids about being a master of your destiny, which I firmly believe you are.

So for those times when you find yourself wandering aimlessly in the desert, think about the Jewish people who at one time, thought it was better to be slaves than be free. They were tested; they were challenged. But they eventually got to the Promised Land. What’s your Promised Land, and what direction do you go to get out of the desert to get there?  The land flowing with milk and honey awaits you if only you’re brave enough to set a course for it.