Ramble Together | Episode 7: Chapter 6- Love Where You Are
We have wrapped up our first book study, ending with a thought-provoking and challenging chapter that encourages us to “love where we are.” We hope that everyone who has joined us on this IGTV journey these past several weeks has felt empowered to do the work of caring for ourselves, embracing their inner courage, and loving others. As we end with this chapter, we’d like to leave you with a section from the book as we continue to walk through these uncertain times. We’d also like to remind you that you are brave, loved and strong.
“You cannot have redemption from the conflict in a story unless there is a rising action to learn from. You cannot defeat the antagonist and simmer with celebration unless there is a turning point at the mountain top. Wherever you are in the plot of your stick figured mountain, it has a rich purpose. Now, I completely get it. It probably doesn’t feel that way. The climb doesn’t feel joyful. Waiting with bated breath for the clouds to blow away while your patience grows weary and cold doesn’t feel like you are obtaining any wisdom or learning anything valuable. It’s because you always have a choice. As long as you choose to be present, to embark on each season of the journey with gentleness for yourself and the process, friends, you can love where you are.”
Reflect- Build Your Cairn
Create a timeline of your life, marking events that were important to you or that stand out in your memory (marriage, the birth of children, loss, starting counseling, making a new friend, etc.).
In the introduction of this study, I talked about how cairns serve as landmarks. Circle the events, whether good or bad, in which your path changed direction. Those are the moments in which you had to adjust, the moments you grieved and learned from, the moments that were difficult and challenging.
How did you move through these experiences and what did they teach you?
What good has come from those difficult sections of your journey?
Remember, a cairn can be a mile marker for an end or beginning, grief or growth, or a memorial to a difficult journey. In the back of this book, there is an outline of a cairn. In the empty space of each rock, whatever type of cairn this is for you, I urge you to write down the feelings, challenges, stories, lessons, friendships, or goals that you have carried this far in your pack. Write down whatever it is that you are ready to leave in your past, or whatever it is that you are pushing towards.
Take a deep breath. Gather your courage, your dearest friends and family, and set your gaze to the horizon. Pile up the heavy rocks of hard-earned lessons and leave the heap behind. The further you walk, the higher you climb, will soon turn that cairn into another dot on your map leading you to higher ground. Continue to be gentle with yourself and others, and be proud of your journey.
