You Are Here (X)

(So...Where is that Exactly?)

You set out for an adventure. You think you have everything you need. You know where to start, how long the adventure is, and where the goal is.

And then life happened.

Google maps is broken. A storm came and watered out the lines on the map. You lost your compass. Suddenly, there are no maps or trail guides to tell you where to go next.

All you know is you have no idea where you are now.

Or maybe you know where you are, but you don't want to be there any more.

Or you know where you are and you're comfortable, safe. You want to keep going but the what if's keep you at your base camp.

Or you know where you are, and you're packing up, getting ready to head back out and keep going. You're unsure if you're really ready for what's ahead; a trek through the dessert, rapids, a 14'er, cliffs, valleys, wilderness, sharks, unknown wildlife, storms with no planned shelter.

But you believe, somewhere deep and sacred, a silenced whisper you can no longer ignore, that it'll be worth it. You believe past your blistered soles, aching muscles, beyond comfortable and unforgiving conditions there's another rest out there, a truth more beautiful than you've ever experienced or known.

A peace that no one else understands, that surpasses all possible human understanding, is out there.

And you know that's what you want.

So I ask again, do you know where you are?

Where you really are; lost, searching, safe, seeking, stuck, wanting, scared, angry, hopeless.

My dear ones, in order to make a move, you need to know where you are-physically, mentally, spiritually.

When you move, your whole self moves. Your soul isn't left at the house when you drive to the store. Your brain isn't left on your bedstand when you get up and live your day (even though it totally feels like it sometimes for REAL). Your physical body isn't left behind when you hike a trail.

All of you is with you wherever you are.

You need to know where you are to get all of you where you want to be.

Slow down. Breathe. Where are you?

Put the phone down. Turn off the screens, the music, the noise.

Get quiet.

What do you hear? What do you already know and don't want to hear?

Take your filtered glasses off.

Look around. What's in front of you? Around you?

Desert? Valleys? Still waters? Rapids? A hurricane? Wilderness? Barren landscape? Lush Forest? A waterfall up ahead? Fresh water with hippos and crocodiles? Vast sea with no end in site and a broken sail?

Get Honest. Get Quiet.

What do you have with you? What do you want to let go of?

What you do need? What do you need to let go of?

What gives you hope?

What's the challenge here for you?

Who's with you? Who sees you?

Who's encouraging you? Cheering you on?

Who's shouting at you to give up?

So I ask one more time, where are you?

(Part 2 is titled, 'What Do You Want)