Required Reading

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Awakening.



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"Once you start to awaken, no one can ever claim you again for the old patterns. Now you realize how precious your time here is. You are no longer willing to squander your essence on undertakings that do not nourish your true self; your patience grows thin with tired talk and dead language. You see through the rosters of expectation which promise you safety and the confirmation of your own identity. Now you are impatient for growth, willing to put yourself in the way of change. You want your relationship to voyage beyond the pallid frontiers to where the danger of transformation dwells.You want your God to be wild and call you to where your destiny awaits."


~ John O'Donohue, author
"The Question Holds the Lantern"

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I am pondering these words and feeling them in the deepest parts of my soul right now. A lot has been happening in my life lately. Pivotal circumstances. . . defining moments. . . . the kind that wake up those questions inside of you like, "Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing? Am I living my life like it's golden? Am I brave enough to do and be what lies in my full potential?"

This week and these words affirm my answers to those questions. And yes, I know this all sounds cryptic but right now that's all I can get out without the ugliest of ugly cries.

Because my God went wild. No, not for me per se. . . but I was there to bear witness. Which meant it was for me, too.

It was an awakening of sorts. Even though I wasn't asleep in my life it was still an awakening. Because I was there. And I am excited and exhilarated and terrified. I am charged and inspired and convicted.

Because my God went wild.

Nope. No earth-shattering concrete life change is about to take place. . . like a move or a job change or a family change. At least not for me. I'm not shifting careers or locations or any such thing. Nope, not me.

But my God went wild. In the ordinary comings and goings of life, yes, my God went wild. And it was still a wildly extraordinary reminder of who and what I can be. I saw all that is good in this world nestled tightly inside of an impossible moment in time. So now I'm looking at that word "destiny" with different eyes.

Yes I am.

And the beautiful part is that I know for certain that at this very moment in time . . . someone else is, too.

***
Happy Thursday.


8 comments:

  1. This stirs me up. Your voice always sounds so authentic -- even through the ether.

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  2. Thank you for sharing that book excerpt. Been going through some things as I prepare to apply for med schools (questioning if I'll be good enough, if this really is his calling for me, etc.), so thank you for reminding me that our God is/goes wild for us everyday. I absolutely love your blog (been a loyal reader for some time now). You are truly an inspiration to me as a doctor I aspire to be like one day.

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  3. From the deck of the Poop,
    DEEP?
    Poopdeck'

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  4. From the deck of the Poop,
    DEEP?
    Poopdeck'

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  5. "I saw all that is good in this world nestled tightly inside of an impossible moment in time." So beautiful & inspiring...Wishing you all the best on your unfolding journey, Dr. Manning!

    Lena

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  6. I love this so much. I LOVE thinking about God going wild. So cool!

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  7. The excerpt is beautiful and your take on it leaves me wanting to know more.

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  8. I've always thought the best things in life are wild. Thanks for sharing. -sparky

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"Tell me something good. . . tell me that you like it, yeah." ~ Chaka Khan