SPIRAL AWAKENING GRACE

I am a fairly reflective type of person, I think.  I do like to think beyond the surface.  I like to get to the real 'meat' of things.  I'm like that in the way I live, the way I learn, the way I teach, the way that I relate to others.

It seems to me that sometimes I get wrapped up in the busy surface living of life and it hinders me from seeing the deeper realities of my living.  Movement is one of those 'deeper realities'.  How can I tell if I'm moving forward?  Wandering?  Going backward?  Walking in circles?  Running?  Walking?  Crawling?

There often seems like there is a circular repetition of experiences - a cycle of sorts - that plays out in my life.  This can, at times prove to be frustrating to me.  Just when I think I may be getting 'somewhere' all of the sudden I feel as though I'm back to where I started.  And the cycle begins again.

Although it seems like I've returned to the beginning and have not gained any ground, I believe that it is more like climbing a spiral staircase.  It feels much like returning to the place where I started when in reality I've moved to begin a new revolution at a slightly higher level.

It is important to remember that during this slow (and often times stagnant feeling) moving up this circular staircase, there is transformation occurring in my life.  On this journey I hope that through continued efforts and growth I will become more aware of the climb and will also become more aware of the beauty of the journey.

I like to think of this 'life-cycle' as God's gift of SPIRAL AWAKENING GRACE.