All of these are possible, even probable, culprits behind my irritability. But, none of these "sat" quite right with my spirit. None of these options felt "it"exactly. These don't hit that-nail-on-the-head.
What is it, Lord?
What is it, Lord?
As I was asking the Spirit of God to counsel my soul and lead me into all Truth, I was struck with a memory from my childhood. More a feeling than a visual memory, actually. This feeling of irritability and unsettledness feels faintly familiar, Lord...
In my mind's eye, I could just see and feel that 16 year old girl riding her "every-other-weekend" ride to her dad's house. That was the agreement. We would go every-other-weekend and see Dad. And, we would see him the weekends before Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas... maybe even Christmas eve.
That's it! That is where I have felt this way before!
That Friday after school would come and almost like clockwork, I would get frustrated, irritable and self-centered. I remember feeling puzzled even at the time. I wasn't even close to aware or conscious of it, like I am now. But, it would happen. And, I would ride that long ride and feel those hard feelings and begin the decent into disconnect.
This is how I have been feeling the last few days.
You see... these last two weeks we traveled far and gathered with a group of people we rarely see and yet, strangely, love deeply. We connected quickly and we prayed together. I listened and I heard hearts. I walked alongside some of my favorite people on this globe. And, then... on Friday, I got on a plane and flew away from that far away place.
I flew away---flew 'home'-- to another place I love... to be among another group of people I love and care for deeply. Welcomed home with love, we reconnected with a warm embrace and tender words. Ahh! home! But, two of my worlds seem to be hanging heavy on my fragile and full heart. Pulling and tugging---making me want to descend into that dark self-centered, disconnected, irritated place. ...to hide in that teenage shell of "I don't care. and What-e-ver!"
But, I do care. I do care very much. And, I am sad that we can't all live together in one big villa! My two, three and four worlds that live within my heart ...
I dreamt about it last night. In my dream I saw friends and family from across the earth. Strange combinations: friends and family from here. from there. and from there. ...all together, interacting with each other, in a crazy mixed up dream---my psyche just trying to make order from the colliding worlds.
I do care very much.
I did care... and still do care deeply... for my dad. I was desperate to see him those "every-other-weekends". But, the coming and goings of my life tugged just too hard sometimes on my heart and it hurt--- it hurts---just too much sometimes.
ugh...this nomadic life: the comings and the goings. Our hearts were not made for good-byes.
ugh...this nomadic life: the comings and the goings. Our hearts were not made for good-byes.
Maybe this is why I have been feeling a bit irritable these last few days...