I recently read this in Rob Bell’s newest book How to Be Here: “You” has never been attempted before. Whoever you are and whatever work you do, no one has ever lived your life with your particular challenges and possibilities. SO true! And honestly, “You” can be tough. And so today I have a word for you… HENEINI. (Heh-Nay-Nee) It’s a hebrew word that appears 8 times in the first part of the bible called the Old Testament.
When it does appear, it’s typically spoken by people who are on the precipice of change… the brink of transition… standing on the edge of their path and what lies before them is uncertain, unknown and uncomfortable… and God asks them where they are and they reply… HENEINI - “Here I Am.” Life is truly a gift, but it can feel overwhelming and scary and nerve-racking and difficult all at once… especially when your path forward seems unknown… it can even feel that way when your path seems predictable as the monotony and routine familiarity makes days feel ordinary. So when that begins to happen to the miraculous and never-done-before experiment of “You,” say HENEINI… just show up… just take that first step. Don’t be worried about all the steps out ahead. Don’t get bogged down by or paralyzed by those feelings. Just say, “Here I am.” Take that step. And once you take it… look for the next one... and on and on. Now here’s another set of words… PROVEHITO IN ALTUM. It’s Latin and means “launch forth into the deep” … isn’t that cool? “You are in a wonderful place. Nerves are God’s gift to you , reminding you that your life is not passing you by. Make friends with the butterflies. Welcome them when they come, revel in them, enjoy them, and if they go away , do whatever you can to put yourself in a position where they return. Better to have a stomach full of butterflies than to feel like your life is passing you by.” -Rob Bell You’re alive… you’re in it… creating a GOOD story… responding to the gift of life you’ve received… HENEINI… show up… take that next step… out into the unknown… dive into the mystery… launch forth into the deep. Remember, “You” has never been attempted before. May you embrace the grand experiment of “You” and show up all day long. Now here are some lyrics from a favorite song of mine titled Middle written by a band named Jimmy Eat World... it's a throwback for sure: Hey, don’t write yourself off yet It's only in your head you feel left out or looked down on Just try your best Try everything you can And don't you worry what they tell themselves when you're away It just takes some time Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride Everything, everything will be just fine Everything, everything will be all right Hey, you know they're all the same You know you're doing better on your own so don't buy in Live right now, Just be yourself It doesn't matter if that's good enough for someone else It just takes some time Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride Everything, everything will be just fine Everything, everything will be all right Hey, don’t write yourself off yet It's only in your head you feel left out or looked down on Just do your best, Do everything you can Don't you worry what their bitter hearts are going to say It just takes some time Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride Everything, everything will be just fine Everything, everything will be all right
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These posts offer further reflection on topics we tackle during MTL nights.
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