Finding Peace in the Present

Wow! 2021…I’m not sure I have the right words to describe the year, but what I do know is that, through all of the ups and downs, ins and outs, confusion and problems solved, I am grateful for so many things. Because of that gratefulness, I can find some peace in knowing that there is hope for the next steps, new endeavors, and new roads, as we move into 2022. We have gone through the year with a bit of a different focus each month, and my hope is that this platform has given something to you that has helped you or served you.

Our December theme was Peace. Google defines peace as freedom from disturbance, tranquility, a friendly greeting, or period in which there is no war or a war has ended. Doesn’t it seem that the world couldn’t lack peace any more though? I’m convinced that we live in unprecedented times, where, if we let the news media, information about COVID19, wars, floods, tornados, and/or mistreatment of people really sink in, we might never leave our houses. I have felt that way so many times…that the world is full of anything but peace, so why be grateful?

BUT…

If I lived that way, I wouldn’t be living out the life and the path that God has set before me. Ironically, for most themes that were put out there (Joy, Gratitude, Peace, as well as the others), I was challenged on new levels. What I am seeing now, is that when I want to take a new step, my “old ways”, if you will, are challenged. You see…the reason for the themes of each month at Lion and Lamb Fitness are to provide a focus, a real life focus that is driven by the gifts of the Holy Spirit and these gifts are what I know I need to navigate life. For example, during the month of November, when our month focused on gratitude, I had so many reasons to throw my hands up and feel like there was little to be grateful for. New challenges, things that happened to challenge my feeling of gratitude, times that made me want to scream in frustration, rather than in thanksgiving were all put into motion so that I could learn new tools to match new seasons in my life. I found a book called The Gratitude Project: How the Science of Thankfulness Can Rewire Our Brains for Resilience, Optimism, and the Greater Good by Jeremy Adam Smith (Editor), Kira M. Newman (Editor), Jason Marsh (Editor), Dacher Keltner (Editor) that has opened my eyes to so many pieces about how being grateful actually changes how I think, as well as how I can serve the world around me.