A refreshed soul…
I don’t know about you, but sometimes life just gets hectic. It feels even more hectic when I am away from my home, my tribe. Our whole family has Oura rings and my first night away from home was a late night and my Oura ring, that never tells a lie, said my sleep was the worst I have ever had. I had a full day of training ahead of me and I knew it would be a long day. The next night, another night away from home, I slept better, but I had a long way to recover. Still, I woke up early in the morning, did my workout routine, and took on the day. Focusing on rest enabled me to face the day with a new sense of energy and it led to amazing connections.
That was physical recovery, but my soul has also been refreshed on this trip. The military is a small world and we often encounter people that are from years past or who have crossed paths with others we know. On this trip, I have had a chance to hang out with several Marines. The best part? Those Marines knew our dear friend Mint. It felt like he was still in the room as we shared stories and as I called Rob last night, I knew it meant the world to him to let him know that Mint’s legacy lived on-never forgotten. Rob’s soul refreshed.
I reached out to a fellow soldier to help Rob out with his efforts on alternative treatments for PTSD and realized that connection was far from random. You never know who has walked a similar path as you until you reach out and speak. The path we walk is often hidden yet God brings us together in healing. My soul, and hers, refreshed.
I had a friend and fellow teammate who received bad news regarding the health of a child and I immediately turned to prayer and reached out to him directly. Remember that connected world I mentioned? In a matter of moments, I had countless prayer warriors all united in prayer for a young child they did not even know. We never stand alone when we are suffering. When we no longer have the strength to pray, others step in and pray without ceasing. His soul refreshed.
Finally, as I sat at the dinner table, I witnessed what others may see as chance encounters and conversations that were clearly intended. As we sat around a dinner table, willing to be vulnerable and candid, each of us connected in ways not normally found during normal dinner conversation. Our souls refreshed and connections created/renewed.
There are times when you can feel completely exhausted, whether physically, spiritually, or emotionally. All of these seek the same, you need time to rest in order to be refreshed. Whether it is seeking much needed sleep, or prayer, it is through God that our souls are refreshed. “He makes me like down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul” (Psalms 23:1-3, NIV).
Today, I pray that you find that much needed rest and that in doing so you wake up both physically and spiritually refreshed. Never hesitate to be vulnerable, you never know where those conversations may lead.
