Boiled eggs will explode if left until all the water evaporates. It’s not that they boil for too long, but that the environment shifts, pressure builds, and all of a sudden there are remnants of eggs decorating the stove. The heat that was once harmless is now destructive. Recently, I caught a pot of eggs with barely any water left and saved the situation before bursting eggs furthered the mess in our kitchen.
Life can look this way. Sometimes we don’t change, but the situation around us does.
Maybe we are doing the exact same thing we’ve been doing for weeks or months or years. Carrying on with our business as per usual, but the environment around us begins to shift. All of a sudden we’re in a place unconducive to our growth and, honestly, a great setup for disaster.
We’re so busy we stop resting.
We’re so overwhelmed we stop noticing.
We’re so frustrated we stop communicating.
We’re so hurried we stop paying attention.
We’re so distracted we stop seeking truth.
We stop praying.
We stop seeing the good.
No grandiose actions need to be taken to save the eggs. We either add water or remove the pot from the heat.
Maybe no grandiose actions need to be taken to disrupt the negative environment casting a shadow on life.
Maybe we add connection and remove isolation.
Maybe we add rest and remove stress.
Maybe we add truth and remove the lies we’ve been simmering in.
Although this time, I caught the eggs before exploding, the last occurrence wasn’t so pretty. Smoke blanketing the kitchen and a littering of eggs after the explosion took place.
That day I had forgotten the importance of paying attention. I was distracted. There was no awareness of the impending doom and, therefore, no action.
We get into these situations where we can easily sit and complain.
The water is evaporating.
It’s too hot in there.
Life is hard.
The kids are cranky.
They told me my food was disgusting.
The list goes on.
Awareness without action changes nothing. We are aware, yet providing no remedy for the situation.
Yes, there are times we need to sit in the ditch and complain. Yes, there are times we need to sit in the ditch with our friends and listen to them complain. But there comes a time when we need to (in the words of one of my clients) shut up and do something.
Add the water.
Remove the pot.
Despite the beautiful life I get to live with Kyle and the kiddos, life hasn’t always looked this way. There were stretches of time that were ugly and messy and painful – roads I hope no momma, wife, or child ever has to walk.
I’ve lived through chapters where I didn’t notice the water disappearing until everything blew apart.
But…today it is beautiful, not ugly, (very messy), but not stupid!
Sometimes restoration doesn’t begin with miracles.
Sometimes it begins with noticing the water is almost gone.
Adding the water.
Removing the pot.
Changing the environment before it changes you.
Sometimes it begins with noticing the environment shifting and acting.
One of the many differences between you and an egg is that you can move!
As Switchfoot sang many years ago, “I dare you to move.”