If what you need is an answer —

You can get one —

Go ahead and make one —

Or take one.

Because really, any will do — if resolving the question as soon as possible is of the utmost importance.

But —

If you want to know the truth —

If you want to be certain in your heart of hearts —

Then you must agree to some amount of waiting and seeing.

A time of testing —

Playing it out —

And living in a state of —

Faith.

Today I allow myself to feel "I don't know" without rushing any conclusions.  I allow myself to gaze into the mysterious horizon passively —

Without acting upon anything. 

I allow myself to leave the sentence unfinished.

For now.

Because.

I don't know.

Yet.

To do or say nothing is often the most effective, graceful move.  But it's easy to get drawn into a habit of measuring our worth in terms of the number of things we "check off" or resolve each day.  Where could your life and your relationships be served by being more wisely passive?  How will you allow yourself to wait alertly — and receive the blessed surprise you did nothing to "earn"?

The quintessential stub of the toe —

At the very same place in the sequence —

Every single time we run the pattern.

And still.

We keep running it.  Keep hitting the snag.  Keep thinking —

This time it will be different.

And then —

Well —

It's not.

So — 

What?  

What, exactly, are we to do with this impediment? 

Just keep it?  Embrace it?  Allow it?  

Say, "I mean to do that" and make it cool?

Perhaps, yes —

If it truly cannot be overcome.

But then.

How many things truly, truly fit this bill?

I am finding the answer — when it comes to me and my perceived limitations — to be:

Very few.

I am also finding —

When I have the heart to stub my toe in community —

In the company of people who support the changes I want to make —

People who will watch with care, break down my moves, give me honest feedback and encourage me to try again —

Without thinking, without judging, without expecting perfection —

People who will look me in the eye and say —

"Just be fabulous."

Well, then —what do you know?

I am.

Is there a limitation you want to get past rather than letting it drag you down and hold you back?  Are you ready to bring this into community?  How will you open yourself up to finding the right community, teacher or coach? 

Red, white and blue —

Draped, waved and worn —

From curb to shining curb.  

Thousands of community constellations —

Band members blaring overtures, politicians on platforms, and people picnicking in parks —

United at dusk in dazzling deafening displays above the earth's Northern Hemisphere.

United in eternity under God —

By our love for —

And commitment to —

Freedom.

We are free people in a free country.

And yet —

Many of us struggle to feel truly free in our everyday personal and professional lives.  

I know I do. 

I wrestle with —

Resource constraints.  Tight turnarounds.  Uncooperative equipment.  Unkind conditions.  Dead bolted decisions.  Itchy trigger fingers —  

Too much noise.

Yes, I often feel locked down by life in the fast lane as we know it today.

But gratefully —

I still have choices!

I can take liberty back —

If I am willing to pay the price.  That price may be as innocuous as a few ruffled feathers, or as stiff as the loss of significant income.  But the choice remains mine.  I can —

Pause.  Redirect.  Disconnect.  Reinvent.  Ask for a favor.  Say yes, or —

Say no.  

Let it go.

All the levers for the freedom I experience in my life are in my hands —

And when I use my heart —

I know just how to play them.

Where do you need to take liberty back in your life?  Are you ready to pay the price?  If not now — when?