Ruts-R-Us
The saying “You don’t know how good you have it ’til it’s gone” never really meant much to me. I may have experienced it in life a few times on very small levels. Currently, I could honestly say “You never know how BAD you have it ’til it’s gone.” In all reality shouldn’t we be able to say that more often?? One would think that people would be striving to eliminate negative situations and people in their lives. More so than doing things to make life difficult. Oh, I know, sin is ever present in this world and causes pain and suffering. And that , spiritually, life in a series of valleys and mountaintops. Still, it seems that we get stuck in ruts and are too lazy, scared, stressed, etc. to pull ourselves out of them. Now some ruts are just ruts…. habits and tendencies that have no real affect on our lives. Conversely, Some ruts are deeply emotionally, physically and spiritually damaging. Why do we allow ourselves to stay in those ruts?! We know we’re being damaged and that if we just climb out life would be so much better. Our excuses for staying in that place are unique for all of us. I know my lame excuses are usually based in fear.
Recently, I climbed out of a rut. Oddly, this was one of those ruts i didn’t realize I was in. Because it involved family it was a rut and a bad situation that I had simply not seen and grown used to. In all honesty, I was unaware of how bad the situation was. Oh, i knew it was not the best, but it was what seemed “normal” to me. Thanks to the grace of God, several of my friends saw how truly bad the situation was. They talked to me about it and made me realize how what seemed normal to me was in reality a situation that i needed to remove myself from. I have now moved out of the house in with amazing friends. After 2 weeks i realize just how bad living with family was. Stress, anger and fear that i didn’t realize I had (or maybe had just grown used to?) is simply gone. I feel more alive and happy. It truly is a wonderful feeling to get out of a rut and to move upwards and onwards in life.
Now unfortunately, there are plenty of ruts iv’e been in that I was aware of and had to fight myself to get out of. There are too many to count really. Hopefully I can remember how i feel right now when I have to climb out of another rut.
