Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Change is hard

I've been feeling stuck lately. Depressed and stuck.

I'm still in this place of shock and anger and disbelief and doubt concerning my relationships with my family.
I can't believe things have turned out this way.
I am saddened and disgusted with what has been revealed as true.
I am angry about the years of 'no's that were never voiced, never respected, never listened to; and how nothing has changed...well, except me. I am finally learning to voice my 'no' - but it's not respected, instead it is actively disrespected.

And I doubt...
am I way off base?
why does it seem like no one else is abandoning their families?
am I crazy?
or just sinful and selfish and hurtful like they claim?
have I gone too far?
what if I'm wrong?

And I worry...
about my kids. I encouraged them to enter into loving relationship with these people and now I am cutting them off from them. Is this damaging them? (Funny thing is that you, God, do the same to me: bringing people into my life and then taking them out and I never know when and I don't often understand your timing. So I have to rest in the hope that providing a healthy mom is more important than saving them from this pain.)

and I worry about losing the respect of people that I admire. I guess that I am afraid that my immaturity shows and you see it and you think less of me for it. That's scary... cuz it might be true. I might be wrong. I know that I lack understanding. I'm guessing that if I was 'further down the path' I would be able to handle this differently, better.

I find that I compare myself to others... a lot!
if God called me here and this is right and good then why didn't he call her here, or him here?
What a dead end! What a ridiculous waste of time! I know that he is calling me to this place. Which is both relieving and terrifying. At times, I would give anything to make every one I know take this journey with me (yeah, I know, talk about bad boundaries). But I am getting closer and closer to being o.k. with the aloneness of this place. Sometimes I am very NOT o.k. with it, but other times it feels possible.

So today, as I journaled out all of my thoughts I was surprised to find that I wasn't grieving. No, I was making my case. And I was spending a lot of time writing about what I don't want. But I desire to spend more time thinking about and moving toward what I want, desire, hope for. Here's what I want:
To work together toward something new.
To have real relationship with each member of my family.
To respect each other's uniqueness, autonomy, power of choice, adulthood, separateness, journey.
To love, respect, and honor each person well.
I want to learn to trust well, from the heart.

Then I wrote this:
"Lord, as I think about what I want I realize that I am still feeling 'bound' to my family. I am also feeling the need to release them so that I can 'get on with' my journey, my desire, what I want, what you are calling me to... I do believe you've called me here. I don't understand it all. I'm sure that I'm failing here and there. I might be wrong. But these are my convictions. Right now, I need to let go of my family so that I can embrace what you are giving me."

Yeah, that's about it.

Whew! I feel unstuck.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gloria,
I don't know you or your situation, but I do know what it feels like to be disrespected by one's family. I prayed for you when I read this.
Peace sister

jeffmacsimus said...

WHEW! That was cathartic even to read... I remember saying to my best friend some years ago that there's the pain of injury and the pain of surgery, and that you almost always have to suffer the latter to end the former. It was one of those times I looked around in shock going "who said that?!?!?"

It feels like you're under the knife right now, sis. Your dream of what you want is full of Kingdom beauty, as is your heart. You inspire me as you walk it through with such strength and faithfulness -- stuff you may not even feel, but shines beneath your surface like gold in a streambed...

Grandma and Grandpa Benson said...

Transforming desires . . . the crossroads of the heart . . . I love your longing.

Jaime G said...

Oh, Gloria. My heart is with you. I so want to speak against the lie that you are immature and it shows. Your whole blog smelled of maturity to me. It is beautiful.

Tonya said...

It is so crazy to see things from one perspective even while you know there is another side. It is in that place that it becomes easy to doubt, the what-if-I-am-wrong questions come.

Keep praying for Truth my friend. For you, and for them. He will shine His light in dark places...including the cloud in your heart.

Love to you.

Judith Hougen said...

Sounds like a time of grieving for you (maybe even while "making your case"). This time also sounds like a stage 4 wall experience. So often life-giving choices feel like death on the front end but will yield the fruit of life if we persevere. The way out is always through--and you're doing it.

Anonymous said...

Gloria,
beautiful post - raw emotion and a tough stand to make. My heart goes out to you, but I salute you as your step out into freedom.
Be blessed :)

Anonymous said...

just wondering how you're doing Gloria? Praying for you.

jb said...

there is no 'further down the path'. there is only the path - I choose to believe you are handling life the best you can, and there is no better.