Practising the Pause

Being present in this 'Now' moment

In the pause between breaths,

I am neither here nor there,

Caught in the ‘in-between’,

Suspended in time.

Pregnant with possibilities

Yet balanced on the edge of promise.

Surrendered to the discomfort of inertia,

Heart racing, adrenaline rising,

In full acceptance of the journey.

Embodying each sacred step,

The stillness, the silence, the pause,

The sorrow, the joy and the pain.

Allowing the process,

Unfolding the Divine plan.

Awakening to Truth.

Releasing the illusion.

It is in the moments of uncertainty - those times in life when we cannot predict which way the ‘chips will fall’ - it is in these moments that we are most challenged. It’s not as though we can ever predict what will happen for us - only God knows - it is just that often our lives follow a familiar pattern which allows us to believe that we are ‘in control’ of what’s happening. Of course we never are! Everything can change in a split second. It’s just that most of the time we are blissfully unaware that it can.

It seems to me that at this precise moment in time many people are facing this same uncertainty. It’s a time when everyone is awakening to the fact that this world is not as we have believed it to be! The unknown can be extremely scary for us - we prefer to live our lives with some semblance of order, in the knowledge that we have a handle on things, which is rarely the truth. We base so much of our understanding on our learned behaviour - which informs our belief system. This may have worked well for us in the past, until a ‘suddenly’ happens that is unforeseen.

At this point all the balls will be in the air! It is only now we can really experience how to practice the pause. How to remain in a place of ‘not knowing’ and retain our still centre. I must confess I have found this place to be both scary and confusing. My faith has been tested to the limit recently by events in my close family. I feel I’m being asked if I will still trust that God is working all things together for good - and that everything is always happening FOR me - and not TOO me! Will my actions match my words - Will I remain peaceful within the storm?

This is something i’ve shared often here on Substack - and interestingly i’ve shared again quite recently. I’ve talked about the ‘storm’ - about how it is all around me, but not in me! Now i’m being challenged about the truth of that statement. Can I weather the storm? Can I stand strong amidst the difficulties we must all face in life?

It is only when we are shaken by the storms of life that we really know how much we have embodied the truth of who we are in God. It is easy to have faith when everything is going smoothly, not so easy when the storm hits. It is in this moment that we need to draw upon Divine wisdom to bring us safely to shore.

So if you, like me, are weathering the storms of this life during these unprecedented days, then take heart. We are all in this together. It may appear we are separate, each of us experiencing our individual stories, but in essence we are all ONE before God. These pressures are to perfect us in love. It is what we are here to learn. How to love as Jesus did - unconditionally from the heart. It is love such as this that can move mountains, yet it is a lifelong lesson, and one we will each struggle to master.

How to love when we are rejected or abandoned 🤔? When we are shamed, ridiculed or judged? Taken for granted or overlooked? These lessons may not be pleasant- but they are necessary, and individually designed for each of us in our unique life stories.

It is in the total acceptance of the Divine Plan of God for our life that we will ultimately find freedom. When we cease to struggle for affirmation and acceptance we can release control. Letting go affords us the ability to live in the present moment without fear. Who would not want to live that way?

With Deepest Love

Carole 💜💜💜