We all fall down.

It has been some time since I have written, life has literally gotten in the way.  I am not going to go into detail as to what has been standing between me and writing, take any overwhelming, busy, or difficult time in your own life and use that.  There are times when life just literally leaves us in a "treading water" pattern of being.  Each day may begin with "I am doing all I can do; no more no less." 

            One day after a snow storm I was climbing through the snow to shovel our deck (we live in Maine, so I really was climbing through the snow) and I was reminded of the need to occasionally let go.   While I was maneuvering my way out back I felt myself lose my balance. As I started to go down I began to fight the inevitable; I grabbed the shovel trying to use it as a cane; when that failed I tried to use my hands and then I just gave in.  This was not a quick surrender, it was slow.  I sunk into the snow up to my waist and once I was there I decided to embrace the situation and sit down. 

            There was something about this moment that was incredibly freeing to me. I felt like I was giving permission to myself to not be in charge.  The tension of fighting the situation left my body, and the snow provided me with a soft place to land yet it was also cold so there was little chance I would remain there.

Abraham Lincoln said "   “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”

Some days we have nowhere else to go but down on our knees, or as in my case, our bottoms.  

     This week is the beginning of Lent a time when we are encouraged to let go of what keeps us from surrendering our lives to God.  If you are treading water, maybe it is time to take a deep breath and go under, submerge yourself in order to pop back up with a vengeance.  If you are racing with blinders on checking off your "to do list" maybe it is time to stop and take a good look around at what you have been missing.  Finally there is no better time than Lent to fall on our knees and pray. 

     Maybe you are feeling like me this season- deciding to forget about giving up chocolate or TV (though these have been valuable tools in the past) and remembering to take the time to give in.

Give in to the snow, the long cold winter, give in to the longer days and promise of spring, give in to the days ahead-whatever they may hold. Rather than fight the season embrace it as a retreat, make it your own, find your safe place to land and take a deep breath and let go!