I can be pretty driven and persistent (some might say “stubborn”) in the pursuit of a potent vision.   I can call forth reserves of bad-ass awesomeness when I get fired up by a project or goal.  When I’m inspired and the adrenaline is kicking in, it feels like I’m moving mountains while singing entire catalogues of show tunes (all the parts, thank you very much, from memory), and I’ll bake a fantastic cobbler, and I’ll make sure my hair looks great while I do it all and have it all!  This can be quite satisfying.

Alas, it’s not really sustainable.  Also, it’s not always what’s called for, nor what’s ideal; not all the time.  It can be exhausting.  It turns into frustration and impatience.  When I’m honest about it, I’ll admit that I can be insensitive or oblivious, so single-minded and intense am I on my own fixations — everybody better get out of my way!

Lately, I’ve been pretty amped up and passionate, cheering, “Let’s do this!  The sky’s the limit!”  And while this exuberance may be perfectly appropriate — we can and shall create wondrous things together, infinite possibility is arrayed before us — I’m reminded of how easy it is to forget the necessity of breathing, opening, and allowing.  Allowing others to breathe, allowing myself to breathe, allowing Life to breathe us.  

Because the thing is — the boundless natural creativity of the entire universe yearns to flow through us, but we totally interrupt the possibility of effortlessness and grace when we insist upon relentlessly striving, proving, and heavy-lifting the world, carrying it on our shoulders like Atlas.  

This week, we honor the legacy and vision of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., assassinated fifty years ago.  As I think about this great man’s dream, and ask myself, “Are we there yet?” the answer seems to be, obviously, “No!  Of course we’re not there yet.”  Inequality, injustice, hatred, and violence are as prevalent and appalling as ever.  We’ve got so much work to do.  We can’t stop.  We can do better, be better.

I take to heart Dr. King’s words:  “We must come to see that human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability.  It comes through the tireless efforts and persistent work of dedicated individuals who are willing to be co-workers with God.”

“Tireless efforts and persistent work” really speaks to me — it speaks to the part of me itching to do it all, make it happen, keep on keeping on.  It amps up the part of me that’s perpetually spoiling for a challenge, a mission, a problem to be solved, a fight.  

Today, though, I really vibe with the end of this quote, and I’m thinking about what it might mean to be willing to be a co-worker with God.  Willingness…  Allowing the Divine to work with us and through us…  Being in partnership with Life rather than pushing everything out of the way so I can plow forth towards whatever I think the destination should be…  

Because at the same time that we might answer, “Are we there yet?” with a “Hell no!”  we might also answer, “Well, we’re here.”  We’re always still here.  

So I’m wondering what it might be like to still be here, doing and being what needs to be and be done.  And also to be still here…  Being still, knowing that God is.  Here we are, my friends.

I can’t wait to be with you.  Love, Drew

© 2018 Drew Groves