7 days into 2010 and my world stopped spinning. 7 days into this new 2011 year and as hard as I tried to stop it, it kept right on spinning and spinning and spinning. So looking back to that cold January morning 378 days ago, in reality the world didn't stop spinning, I did. The world around me still woke up, had breakfast, dashed off to work, ran its own rat race, then made a bee line for home just to wake up and start it all over again the next morning.
Not me. Not last year, and I pray I won't experience it this year either. You're probably thinking about now, "OK, she's nuts, and someone gave her a keyboard to entertain herself." Well you might be right about the nuts part and even that I can be entertained with a keyboard, but let me explain my thoughts. When I say "not me" I mean things changed in my life so dramatically after January 7, 2010 normal as I knew it then became a very strange and even ugly place.
I'm not saying I didn't still have a job and eat breakfast and all the other "normal" stuff people do. I'm saying I had to find a "new normal." The other normal spent way too little time cherishing the things that really mattered. That ugly normal carried around anger, bitterness and a very unforgiving spirit. It would allow vicious words to fly from its mouth directed right to the heart of the people who loved it most. Rarely was it sorry for offending others or taking relationships for granted. And really why should it feel bad, after all it was all "normal." I had fallen into this rat race of norm and after a phone call, a hospital, a last breath, a funeral and a cemetery I saw just how ugly normal really was.
Life is certainly not perfect here in my new normal. Sometimes the ugly one will try and wiggle its way back in and disguise itself with some creative reason not to take time for some quite time alone with God each morning. If I'm not careful it can sometimes trick me into believing my boss would send me packing if I needed some flexibility in my work schedule. And when the big ugly one pulls out all the stops to trip me up, it sneaks into the picture with a truckload of guilt. The conversation sounds something like this, "oh I know you are so busy but we really NEED you to be on this committee, take this class, and save the planet." No, No, and just for fun, NO! You should see the face on the ugly normal when it realizes its been exposed. Did you know that is really is perfectly "normal" not to be all things to all people? Ugly normal would try and convince you its "un-christian." HA! and just for fun again, HA! HA!
God placed me on this planet for a purpose. A specific and unique purpose designed with my name attached to it. He is the only One capable of being All Things to all people. Too many times the ugly normal steps in and decides it can fall right in step with the Creator of the universe and run the show in every arena known to monkey or man. Sadly, what happens to us when we have been deceived by the ugly normal is we miss what our real purpose was. As wives, we miss those special date nights with our husbands then wonder why our marriages are a wreck. As mothers we can be so pulled in every direction we turn around and suddenly the kids are all grown, and to our surprise, gone.
My new normal is a daily surrender process. Surrender to all the things the world tells me I should be in exchange for all the things my Heavenly Father tells me that I am. And what I am is a child of the Most High who is learning to love in a way I have never loved before.
It's fun to be a new normal. My new normal enjoys life and really living it every day. Over the last year it took me to the alter to renew my wedding vows with the man I've loved for 27 years. It encourages me to treasure moments and make memories when my children come to visit. Or when one moves back home. :) It taught me it really can be fun to get dirty and grow a garden with my parents. I've enjoyed becoming friends with my sister and comfortable telling a friend I will pray with them. New normal still has a job and responsibilities but it's also learned to share the lessons it's learned with those who sometimes believe their job is who they are. I believe I am a better employee and have been given greater blessings in my job this past year because now my job is what I do and not who I am. Rewards have over flowed since I got convicted and the ugly normal was evicted. The priceless gift my new normal received came on Thursday, February 18th, weighing in at 6 pounds 9 ounces. Exactly 6 weeks from the day I thought nothing would ever be "normal" again I'm so thankful to God it hasn't been. New Normal, meet Hannah Grace. God makes all things new. Every time I open the door and see her sweet face smiling at me life is so much better than "normal" it's beautiful.
