Uncomfortable
This week Roger said he was asked to share at his morning check in meeting tomorrow and he wasn't sure what to talk about. I thought about it and said...."maybe talk about being uncomfortable. Covid 19 has made us all uncomfortable and forced us to adapt and sacrifice.....the protests make us uncomfortable because we have to face our own view of racism and oppression and violence....and we said yes to a foster placement last weekend and that, too, is uncomfortable. Talk about why we always need to feel comfortable and get really crabby when we are uncomfortable." He said, "wow. that's deep. We don't usually talk about things like that".
That was a few days ago. I'm still considering and thinking about the idea of being uncomfortable.
I strive for comfort constantly. If I have a hot flash, I turn on a fan or shed clothing or something. If I am hungry I get food. If I am overwhelmed I take action to find quiet or alone time or I cry....I respond to being uncomfortable and try to make myself more comfortable. We all do, right?
Covid 19 has made us all uncomfortable. As we move toward reopening things and resuming activities that, too, is uncomfortable! Take your temp. Wear a mask. Stay home if you don't feel well....who can we interact with? Who do we need to avoid? It's exhausting.
Facing the protests and civil unrest and racism in our nation is uncomfortable. White Americans traveled to Africa and kidnapped people and made them come here and work without pay.....for more than a generation of humanity.....and it was wrong. It was so wrong. No one stopped it soon enough....and epi-genetics and human nature and sin and greed paved a way for racial discord yet and still in 2020. It makes me so uncomfortable. Trying to explain it to Precious who is almost 11 is extremely uncomfortable.....and looking at Josiah knowing he will grow up to be a young man very soon and will face racial traumas isn't just uncomfortable it is unacceptable. Period.
We have had a foster care license for over 2 years but have only done respite care for short periods of time. Last week we got a call to take a child who would likely need to stay longer. We talked about it. We prayed about it. We slept on it. We woke up the next day and had the same thoughts about it and decided we could say yes this time. We have said no lots of times. He came last weekend. Everything about foster care is overwhelmingly and tragically uncomfortable. I won't give details because I don't have a right to share this story in a public way. If you are a close family or friend to us you will know more about it all....and if you see us out and about with an extra little then you will know why. Foster care is uncomfortable. Holistically and practically and achingly uncomfortable.
So what do we do? Maybe instead of rushing out of discomfort, we/I need to just state the obvious. It's messy. It's inconvenient. It's tragic. It's hard. It's annoying. It's hot or cold or windy or buggy or whatever it is that is less than ideal......many things this side of Heaven are uncomfortable! But many things this side of Heaven are oh so worth it.
One day, when Jesus returns and fulfills all the promises of the bible and of what we all know that we know that we know about love and purpose and creation and happy endings....then uncomfortable can go away. For now.....most of what He needs us to do, and what makes for a better life here is going to be uncomfortable. Settle in. Name it to tame it. Don't be proud and don't lie and make us all think you are not uncomfortable with the things that need to be done.
One last thought.....if you are not ever uncomfortable then why not? What are you unwilling to do? Spend a bit of time wondering that, I think. Know this....if you step out into uncomfortable and it gets hard, reach out. I'll be kind and I will understand. I promise.
That was a few days ago. I'm still considering and thinking about the idea of being uncomfortable.
I strive for comfort constantly. If I have a hot flash, I turn on a fan or shed clothing or something. If I am hungry I get food. If I am overwhelmed I take action to find quiet or alone time or I cry....I respond to being uncomfortable and try to make myself more comfortable. We all do, right?
Covid 19 has made us all uncomfortable. As we move toward reopening things and resuming activities that, too, is uncomfortable! Take your temp. Wear a mask. Stay home if you don't feel well....who can we interact with? Who do we need to avoid? It's exhausting.
Facing the protests and civil unrest and racism in our nation is uncomfortable. White Americans traveled to Africa and kidnapped people and made them come here and work without pay.....for more than a generation of humanity.....and it was wrong. It was so wrong. No one stopped it soon enough....and epi-genetics and human nature and sin and greed paved a way for racial discord yet and still in 2020. It makes me so uncomfortable. Trying to explain it to Precious who is almost 11 is extremely uncomfortable.....and looking at Josiah knowing he will grow up to be a young man very soon and will face racial traumas isn't just uncomfortable it is unacceptable. Period.
We have had a foster care license for over 2 years but have only done respite care for short periods of time. Last week we got a call to take a child who would likely need to stay longer. We talked about it. We prayed about it. We slept on it. We woke up the next day and had the same thoughts about it and decided we could say yes this time. We have said no lots of times. He came last weekend. Everything about foster care is overwhelmingly and tragically uncomfortable. I won't give details because I don't have a right to share this story in a public way. If you are a close family or friend to us you will know more about it all....and if you see us out and about with an extra little then you will know why. Foster care is uncomfortable. Holistically and practically and achingly uncomfortable.
So what do we do? Maybe instead of rushing out of discomfort, we/I need to just state the obvious. It's messy. It's inconvenient. It's tragic. It's hard. It's annoying. It's hot or cold or windy or buggy or whatever it is that is less than ideal......many things this side of Heaven are uncomfortable! But many things this side of Heaven are oh so worth it.
One day, when Jesus returns and fulfills all the promises of the bible and of what we all know that we know that we know about love and purpose and creation and happy endings....then uncomfortable can go away. For now.....most of what He needs us to do, and what makes for a better life here is going to be uncomfortable. Settle in. Name it to tame it. Don't be proud and don't lie and make us all think you are not uncomfortable with the things that need to be done.
One last thought.....if you are not ever uncomfortable then why not? What are you unwilling to do? Spend a bit of time wondering that, I think. Know this....if you step out into uncomfortable and it gets hard, reach out. I'll be kind and I will understand. I promise.
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