The impassible things feel impossible: cancer diagnosis, addiction, severed relationships, death, a motherless child, a childless mother…those deep aches that no amount of self-talk, wisdom, or perspective can eradicate. The encouraging words don’t help. These are not life situations that will go away with a pep-talk or positive attitude. There is importance in suffering. A life shattering change is supposed to rattle the foundations of your soul. There is no wrong in feeling hurt, angry, sad, overwhelmed, underwhelmed, desolate, or burdened by the journey.
There is great possibility in impassible roads.
These roads are where character is forged. A refiner’s fire fine tunes what and how we believe. After all, as ancient tongues have told us, a seed must crack and break in order to grow.
I live my life in faraway places. Any given moment I’m in Narnia, Middle Earth, even 18th century Scotland (I’ll take one Jamie Fraser, please). Why? Because it is easier to navigate fantasy where I’m the heroine. Each day can feel like Groundhog Day. They’re layered with pain I’ve been taught not to feel. Besides, living in a fairytale means I get to be a badass princess…*drop mic*
Two of my favorite authors, John and Stasi Eldredge, tell me we live in a grand adventure God is orchestrating. That I am the heroine of a grand and wonderous story. So, what am I to do with this wild earth my feet tread on? Blaze a trail.
My marvelous friend, Shannon, shared her varied and wonderous adventures with her husband, Michael, from their “We’re the Griswold’s 3.0” trip on Facebook (I live vicariously). Shannon is the type of person that sees you for the AMAZING human you are & tells you to be even more AMAZING! She is a cup-filler, a distillery for living a passionately saturated sort of life! The energy is palpable. When I’m in her orbit I’m driven to be the best I can be. She is a woman that doesn’t set herself up for comparison. There is community and forbearance that comes with her friendship. She helps illumine your path.
She posted this picture from her adventures:
…and said, “Just because the road is closed doesn’t mean you can’t go”. The minute I saw this, my heart leapt. She continued, “When the road to where you want to go is closed, you just park the car and walk five miles over snow and ice to get there. Because, that is how we roll!”
“That is how we roll!”
That is how I want to roll!
At the end of my life, my hope is that people will say, “Melissa, really lived her life to the fullest – with joy and grace!”
“Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.” – Jeremiah 20:9
There is fire shut up in these bones. Even if I try to keep my mouth shut, I cannot help but speak. There is marrow deep desire to be a trail blazer. And, I believe, with confidence that God is asking, “Melissa, will you walk the impassible with me? Will you trust that this is indeed a path? A path that is treacherous, but just wait beloved, what you will see on the other side will steal the breath from your lungs!”
If I’m honest, I’ve left the well warn path long ago. I dip back on it time and again, thinking the easy will relieve the melancholy. Yet, it is that call to come further in and further up that pulls like a tethered balloon. I keep thinking of the view. All I want is to live life as fully and completely as possible. I want to pour love into others, helping them to see their full potential, whether I believe they are deserving or not.
Grace upon grace.
I live my life with the ‘glass half empty’ mentality, not because I am a pessimist. I just like to be prepared. I’m always searching for the landmine – preparing for the other shoe to fall. My friend Abby posed the question, “what if it does?” Even if trauma comes to whisper defeat over my heart, is He not still good? The answer is a resounding, “YES!”
Never have I felt more confident, more myself. I wish it hadn’t taken this long, but I’m grateful for this season. This beautiful blessed season where I know that anything is possible. I’m so grateful to be His. This faith that has found me is beyond compare.
Shannon went on to say, “Impassible roads just mean we have to work a little harder to find our way, but that doesn’t change the fact that our path is still there or that there may be multiple paths that lead us to where we need to be.”
Touches of providence, for there are no mistakes. The hardships that bring tears illumine stones which will lead us home.
{“Why it’s simply impassible!
Alice: Why, don’t you mean impossible?
Door: No, I mean impassible.
(chuckles) Nothing’s impossible!}
- Lewis Carroll
Reflection of Providence 