June has been a tricky month for me, all in all. The pain of real life has dappled the sunshine of home, as I attempt to come to terms with it all. Sometimes I wish I did not experience every emotion in such a raw, intense way. The insomnia which plagued me for the first 40 years of my life has returned these last six weeks or so and I feel weary and tired. Not for the first time in my life, I am yearning for an off switch for my brain, to give me a break from the busy-ness of thinking.
June has brought with it deep feelings of loss, as well as a gnawing concern about the world my teens are going to be growing up in. I have found myself avoiding social media and the news, attempting to block out the negativity surrounding UK politics, but even so there is a heaviness hanging in the air right now. To be honest I don’t understand enough of the ramifications of the UK either staying or leaving Europe, but I do know that there is hostility and suspicion where there was once love and trust.
Yesterday I took myself for a long walk in the woods. It was cold and wet, matching my mood. I strode onwards, up into the thick of the forest, deeper and deeper. Unaware of exactly where I was, rain pelting down on me, my boots ankle-deep in mud, I just wanted to lay down and curl up. Instead (because really, curling up and lying down in the middle of a wet forest would help neither my own personal situation or that of my country’s) I broke down and called out to God.
All the hurts of the last few weeks came pouring out as my own tears mixed with rain drops, both streaming down my face. It was as if God was crying with me. In that moment I felt what can only be described as the dawn of an understanding of God’s pain as he sees His children pitch themselves against each other, hurting each other needlessly. I was hurting because my motives had been brought into question concerning a friendship, when someone I loved chose to believe the worst of me. I could see the parallels between my own situation and the one in the UK – a split nation where motives were being called into question; families and friends, finding themselves untenably on opposing side, were fragmenting, a reflection of the larger picture.
The rain was falling like feathers now, gently brushing my cheeks. It was the type of rain which always reminds me of spring and new beginnings. The sun strained through the cloud, easing its way through the thicket of leaves. I smiled, seeing the message God was sending me. All things happen for the good of those who love Him. God is a God of loveliness, a God of miracles and is more than capable of creating beauty from ashes. Things may never be the same as they were before, but a person can heal and move on and a country can do likewise.
My pace slowed to a ramble. My tears had dried up; my heart was not feeling as vulnerable anymore. God had cleared the chaos of my mind and I knew I was at a cross roads in my life. Would I take my pain, nourish and nurture it into something that would have long-lasting implications as to my ability to have close friendships in the future? Or would I listen intently to what I felt God whispering through those feathery raindrops as they fell past my ears, gently to the floor?
I pondered, in that moment, how many times in my life had I chosen to see the worse in people, including myself? How many people had I misjudged and caused untold pain to? How many people had I brushed off because of shyness or thinking that I wasn’t good enough? I wondered how much difference a smile would make to someone’s day; what effect an encouraging word would have on the people I came across in my life; and most of all I wondered about the effect one girl could have on the people around her if she chose to always see the best in them.
And this is what I came away from my walk with. I had wandered lost and alone through those woods and God had met me where I was at. He had tended for me with infinite care, without judgement, without holding back love and tenderness. He had seen my pain and He had cried with me. And there and then, I made the decision to choose love. Always. It is what Jesus chose as He died on the cross. Because God’s children do not need unnecessary judgement; they do not need more pain or unkindness. Life is hard enough. From this day on I choose love, and it will be my prayer from now until the day I die that my country, which I am so proud to be a part of, will also choose love.
At a time in history where we are faced by unprecedented negativity in the media twenty-four hours a day, NOW is surely the time for LOVE.
(((hugs))) Prayers for your country, for your family, and for you! <3
Thank you x Thank you for your email, I will be replying very soon (())
((((hugs)))) and prayers. Thinking of you xx
Thank you x
Beautifully written! I agree there is too much horrible stuff in the news and especially on face book. Love is the answer.
It sure is!
I think your thoughts here are exactly what the Bible is talking about when it refers to us as salt and light in a dark and tasteless world – we reflect His love so others know where to look to find it. This is a lovely devotion for the day !
Thank you Leah 🙂
I am emailing you.
You are such a lovely friend. Thank you. I so appreciate you <3
Hi Claire,
Thank you for sharing, I bet that was hard. I love how you choose love in the end. Isn’t that always best and yet at times I find it hard to do. In the past I have chosen to hang on to the pain-it was not the best. Ah but we learn from our past. Take care!
Thank you Jen xx
Thank you for sharing this here, Claire. So powerful.
Sometimes I think we humans have to hit rock bottom and be down on our knees for change – real, lasting change – to occur. I feel scared too with all that is happening in the world, all the pain turned into hate. But maybe that’s what it is – breaking down, hitting rock bottom, getting on our knees. So something real can be born – Love.
Every time I notice a thought that is painful or fearful enter my consciousness I immediately counter it with “all is well.” I am finding this simple thing is really helping me not get overwhelmed by it all. Otherwise, one thought leads to the next and I am lost again. Instead, I am choosing Light not Darkness.
Hugs to you all in England. You are in my prayers.
Cathy xoxo
All is well. Yes. I am reading one of Edith Schaeffer’s books (one of my favourite authors) and she reminded me that whilst nothing on earth is infinite we believe in an infinite God with infinite powers, well able to counteract man’s mistakes.
Thank you for your prayers x
What a beautiful post. I’m sorry you found tough times, but glad you found some peace. Your post made me cry.
Thank you x
This is so beautiful. I pray sleep finds you again and I wish I could reach over and give you a great big hug.
Thank you Audria. I would reach right back over and give you one back 🙂
Claire, thank you for sharing those beautiful words. My heart also breaks for a nation divided by cruel words. The way forward, as you say, is love. Bless you now and always.
Thank you Vicki xx
(hugs) You are a beautiful person.
Thank you x
What a powerful entry. Thank you so much for sharing your struggles and love. You are an amazing person! We are praying for your family during this difficult time. The media can be very hard to take at times and change is always hard. I find that our country is also filled with fear, anger and hate. This is the scariest and hardest election year of my adult life. We need to spread compassion, love and grace.
Blessings, Dawn
We do. I know all eras in history have their own struggles but it feels particularly hard at the moment. Thank you for your prayers x
(((Hugs))) It seems that we are living in such angry times, where people have forgotten how to love and see the best in others. Yours is a reminder I think we could all use.
Thanks Kris 🙂
I was wondering how the “brexit” had hit you. I’m sorry people are responding so angrily to everything going on and to you personally. If I was there, I’d give you a great big hug and tell you how much I love reading your blog and how encouraging it is for me.
You’re right Jesus did choose love when He hung there on the cross, and it’s so important for us to choose love as well (but it’s oh so hard sometimes).
It’s been a big learning experience for me. Thank you for your lovely words 🙂
{{hugs}} dear friend. The word is at unrest and I’ve found myself so often having to leave worry at the Father’s feet. Thank you for the reminder to choose love.