It’s OK to be OK

If there is one thing I am not good at (and there are many), it is celebrating. Don’t get me wrong: I like to eat good meals, laugh, and share drinks over conversation. But, in and of themselves, these are not celebrations. They are good things that can provide rest and even the needed momentum to keep looking forward. However, a celebration is as much a momentary event as well as a movement in our soul toward joy and thankfulness. It’s ok to be ok.

By naming this blog “Slow Repair,” I, in some ways, wanted to remind myself that emotional health and spiritual healing are gradual and subtle in both nature and design. I am not the only one who struggles to be patient and kind with both myself and others about how long it takes to crawl out of old habits and sift personal history through new filters that allow grace and purpose to grow. Growth takes time. And so do we broken vessels who are seeking a mosaic of forgiveness and peace where we can belong. I need to remember that such “slowness” is not proof of being wrong or lazy. Instead, like a seed planted properly, it is a process of death giving way to life. Time, slowly.

However, after almost two years of writing this blog, I am spending more time contemplating the “repair” I have witnessed. While it has indeed been slow, my soul is on the mend and being nursed toward life. This is beautiful and humbling just as much as it is weighty and pressing. It is worth celebrating instead of rushing forward in search of the next broken piece needing repair. We all need to take the time to notice and explore the poignant gift of God’s gardening of our lives. There are reasons to throw a party, reasons to raise a glass and make a toast to God’s persistent presence, even in our sorrows. If we take a break from pursuing and accomplishing, we will find the repairs (no matter how small) our hearts want to acknowledge with others. Some stories need telling with truth and laughter. We need friends to take time out of their schedules and revel with us in the significance of the life God has given each of us.

Taking opportunities to celebrate orients gratitude and purpose in our hearts. We will be confronted with the reasons to accept joy. Also, there will be fertile ground for us to expect our desires and goals to grow. We have reason to rejoice, and we should find ways to frequently rejoice together in both the “slow” and the “repair.” Cheers.

There is so much more to say and discover about what it means to be “OK”. So sign up below to stay connected to the conversation, and let me hear from you in the comments below.