Casey Cease

You may have heard some variation of the story of a person being overwhelmed about how to eat an elephant. The answer is a pithy, “One bite at a time!”

Perhaps you struggle with analysis paralysis. You need to have everything planned out to perfection, A to Z before you will get started.

There is certainly merit to that, but I think it often leads to great ideas never taking form. This can lead to a life full of “should of’s” instead of “I’m glad I tried that’s”.

What if, for your next idea, instead of planning A to Z, you make an honest go at A to B? Decide what the next best step is, and give it a go.

Rather than live paralyzed by the overwhelming task, you take it a “bite” at a time. Walk through the doors as they open, and see what you learn along the way.

After all, I’ve heard it said, more than once, that failure is the refusal to learn from failures along the way. So, as long as we’re learning, we might as well trust Jesus and get started.

Showing up is important. Whether it’s college classes, work, family life, the gym, or faith, we need to understand the power of showing up.

More than merely showing up, we need to show up consistently. We need to develop the habit of showing up.

I have battled with anxiety and depression on and off, I have learned that part of healing is proper positioning and then showing up. What I mean by proper positioning is many times when life isn’t going our way, it would do us well to evaluate where we are showing up (or not) and how we are showing up (or not).

Often, when things are out of whack, I can do a pretty quick evaluation of habits surrounding my faith, family, health (diet, exercise, water intake, sleep, etc.), work rhythms, regular Sabbath, and reflective retreats, and identify where I am not showing up, and where I am not appropriately positioned.

Showing up entails not only being physically present but also emotionally engaged. You have to be careful when you are showing up, but not engaging emotionally/relationally, that you are probably being experienced more like a fixture than a presence.

If you’re in a rough season, then I have found that it is helpful to communicate that to those close to you that you want to bring the best that you can, but you don’t have much to offer. This happens for everyone at some point in life.

It is easy to show up. It is also easy to not show up. The reality is when we make the habit of showing up, whether it’s at home, work, or our Sunday morning worship gathering, we are taking the right step.

Many people go through life without ever really showing up. I’d encourage you to show up. That’s when the joys of life really become evident.

Let’s commit to one another that we will do our best to show up.

We all need to slow down.

The pace that we rush through life, check social media, text, purchase, etc., etc., etc.

No wonder we feel burned out, depressed, done, and/or “can’t even”.

How would it feel to live a life that never felt rushed? How would it feel to be able to be fully present with those who matter the most? How would it feel to be able to notice God’s active grace in and through your life?

I need to slow down.

So do you.