"IFs" in the Margins of our Lives

So much of each day is spent in the "IF".

If I just...
If I had...
If I lived...
If she...
If he...

Conditional theology runs rampant through mind and heart. The urge to flee, change, dismiss, possess, leave ALL deceive the present by laying claim to a hope that exists only outside of our current reality.

In her book "The Wisdom of No Escape", Pema Chodron says it this way, "If we are committed to comfort at any cost, as soon as we come up against the least edge of pain, we're going to run; we'll never know what's beyond that particular barrier or wall or fearful thing."

Jonathan Wilson Hartrgrove invites us to erase those 'ifs' from the margins of our thinking and instead to sit with that edge of pain. His book, "The Wisdom of Stability", is an invitation to stay grounded in place and purpose. Rooted in community, grounded in love - abundant life is present here and now without any 'ifs'.

In this video, he offers a word of invitation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4KBRL8NjJk.

My story has been one of many places - rich, diverse, beautiful places - Louisiana, Virginia, Tucson, Princeton, New Wilmington, New Jersey, Charlotte, Staunton, St. Louis. But that history comes with an urge to flee I often wrestle with internally. Jonathan's words come at a time when I personally am wrestling with place and purpose. I'm eager to erase a few ifs, and write in some stabilizing words: serenity, stability, courage, challenge, wisdom, winsome, home.