Send The Foxes Back To Their Foxholes

It dawned on me that this edition would be going out on Good Friday, a day of solemn remembrance for Christians everywhere. It marks the end of Jesus’ journey in Jerusalem. And the beginning of another more dynamic one filled with hope and possibility.

What has that got to do with me and you? Agreeably, we are all on our own journeys. But the destination may not even be a place. It could be a situation we are in. Like after retirement. There is no more “work”. Or it could be a relationship that has come to an end. Or a business venture that has gone south. Or an unexpected financial crisis. These can stop us dead in our tracks. We can find it difficult to move on.

Nonetheless, Henri Nouwen in his book “Here And Now” throws a spanner in the wheel - he highlights the power of imagination and the importance of living each minute and hour as a new beginning. By simply opening our minds and hearts to the possibilities that are awaiting us.

Admittedly, it's not always easy to do that. We're often held back by our past experiences, and it can be tough to shake that feeling of "here we go again." But as Nouwen points out, if we listen to those negative voices, they'll just drag us down even further. We need to send the foxes back to their foxholes. Rather, we need to find the voice that's calling to us - by whatever term we attribute it - God, higher power, nature, or inner wisdom and let it guide us forward.

Recently I found this uncredited quote on the Internet that has become my mantra: “The journey may be downhill now, but the view can still be spectacular”. It's a reminder that even when life and circumstances keep changing, there's still beauty and wonder to be found if we look carefully.

Action: this week, take some time out, find a quiet space, and connect with the Voice that is calling out to you.

Here’s to new beginnings,

Jude

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." - Seneca