Life has a way of questioning my existences; maybe questioning yours also. It’s been just over a year when I posted, The Sticky Note Resurfaced- Splankna!
All that is happening in the world has grounded me in the compassion, tenderness, and empathy needed to recognize Splankna once again as the deep seated root of emotions that churn the gut and highlight the internal workings of the bowels. In this day and age, the word may be stress – a word overused in light of the many blessings I experience daily.
There is the blessing of taking a deep breath and releasing it as a bodily tool to regulate my emotions. There is watching the snow fall, and blanket the non aesthetic brown grass, as a gift from heaven to embrace the seasons of life. It is the amazement of the hornets nest that is weathering the stormy winds by swinging from a branch seemingly untouched.
This day to day, moment by moment, way of being is grounding me in the strength of the hornets nest I see outside my window. It is the incredible strength built upon layers and layers of pulp. I am also wonderfully made to withstand the storms of life. The lightweight flexibility that makes the hornets nest so strong is the same multilayered experience of mind, body, and soul that we are all built.
Unlike the home of the hornet, my soul is strengthened by the Lord. The Holy Spirit lives in me to guide me to be compassionate, to be empathetic, to be mindful of the many blessings in the day to day.
Just as the Greeks consider splankna a word to speak of the gut reaction as deep emotions, and the hornets nest a strong yet flexible dwelling place, may I continue to sway from the vine that is the Lord. That in all circumstances, there is a moment of joy, alone with the Lord or together with others.
Joy is in the air. I turn to the right and left and there is a message or word from the book of Philippians. Be it splankna, be it neuroplasticity, be it me self-regulating, I am able to settle the emotions and walk this life journey with perspective of Paul’s final exhortation Phil 4:8 “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”
May I continue in this world to exist and do all that is praiseworthy.
Always grateful,
Walking In Your Gifts 