As many of you know, I have been training to be a Holy Yoga instructor. I am so excited about this. Next week is our retreat. I signed up for the training in the spring and started the class on September 6th. The retreat has been on my mind for months. The retreat is the culmination of all the hard work and preparation. The retreat is where it all comes together. We (90 women?) practice together for 6 days.
The preparation has included weekly phone calls…webinars…prayer partners. We read five different books along with the binder filled with Holy Yoga information and of course, the Bible. I watched 4 DVDs and practiced on the mat 3 times a week at least.
I have prepared my family. Kid’s schedule on the refrigerator, plans have been made. Lunch food bought and stocked. Rides arranged…Halloween under control…costumes, plans, rides, schedules…check.
Bags are packed, new yoga pants, new yoga mat…toes are a pretty red…a fall red…pedicure pretty and ready for the mat.
Heart is open, ready…awake…primed for change and growth and transformation. Mind is ready to embrace the ideas and the laughter and the wisdom and the grace of the women who will teach and learn with me.
Body is ready. Not as ready as I’d like it to be but it bends and it flexes and my heart opens and my breath is strong. I’m not the “playing weight” I’d like to be but I don’t think we ever are…regardless of who we are…it’s a burden we carry as women. I have worked to lay that burden down and accept with gratitude the way my knees bend and my shoulders carry and my back is strong. I have learned about the spine…the crown to tail alignment…the beauty of the primary line. My body is ready.
My spirit is ready too. It’s ready to share and open and learn and accept and pray.
Last night I was ready, mind, body, soul, heart…ready.
This morning my flight was cancelled.
There is no way to get to my Holy Yoga retreat. It’s not going to happen. Hurricane Sandy is too strong, too scary, too powerful. People are evacuating, flights are cancelled, there is no going there. Am I supposed to go into the “eye of the storm”?
I thought of the irony, the political climate is so tense right now with the elections. The place I was going is a ”battleground” state. A bunch of women armed with Bibles, practicing yoga, descending on a “battleground” state in the midst of a massive, powerful, scary storm seemed fitting. It’s a beautiful image really…Let’s put on the “armor of God” and go in there and be strong, peaceful warriors preaching love and unity.
Yeah…cool image but not happening. At least not now. The battle will rage, the storm will rage and we will watch from a distance. Suit of armor beside us ready for another time. Or maybe we will wear it for the internal storm that is brewing…the internal storm of unrest, anger at not getting what we want, anxiety, disappointment.
But what about driving? Renting a car? The Greyhound bus? Another airline? Another airport? I spent all morning clinging to hope and calling and looking up and connecting and waiting and grasping. To no avail. A friend called because her parents live on the East Coast and she told them I was going to drive there and they said, “ABSOLUTELY NOT”. I kept checking and hoping and praying and planning and talking but I know it now…in my heart…I know it…I’m not going. I can’t fix this with a phone call. I can’t change this. I have to accept it.
What I want is not happening. What I worked for is not happening. What I’ve planned for cannot happen now…maybe later but not now.
Is this a test?
I’ve been reading about Jesus and loving me some HOLY and some YOGA and feeling really strong in my faith. I’ve been hearing about BOLD prayers and courageous faith and I’ve been embracing the need to see all things as sent from God and ordained and Holy. There have been tears…Holy Spirit tears that have nourished me and cleansed me. I’ve been working and practicing peace and acceptance and faith and ….TRUST.
But I don’t feel any of that right now. I feel heartbroken.
I want it and it’s not going to happen.
I do think this, like all things must be from God. He is trying to say something, to teach me something and I don’t know what it is. I never fly alone. I don’t go on trips by myself. I don’t get trained in things. I want this. It’s different. It’s for God’s glory for God’s sake!
WHY CAN’T I HAVE IT????
I’m working on acceptance of what is and the master plan. I can choose to be sad which I will choose for today. But tomorrow, I will choose TRUST. I will believe I was not supposed to fly out tomorrow. I will TRUST that He still has great plans for me but this time, His plans are not my plans. I will TRUST and I will say thank you.
Okay…here goes…I get it…stop trying to control…Here’s my prayer…my mantra for the week…
Lord, Thank you. I trust you. Go ahead…you lead…I’ll follow.
©2012 Sue Bidstrup, Great Big Yes™ All Rights Reserved image from Pinterest
How disappointing! Yes you an live there you deserve it (for a day!). This is an inspirational post for all of us! Let go and let God!
Keep up the spirit… Enjoy trick or treating!! ;0)
I am sorry for your loss, I can’t imagine the frustration… And no, don’t drive!
Sue,
I am so sorry ! This was perfect timing for me though, sometime I will share why. I believe you will have it and when it does happen it will be a greater gift than now!!! Possibly your disappointment is teaching us all to trust a little bit more. Thank you for being such a gift.
As we told our kids yesterday, we are blessed. You are so blessed. Blessed to be safe and sound in your home with your loving family. You are blessed.
Oh, Sue! I made myself skip to the end to learn how you managed to get to your destination, despite all the obstacles. I felt so sad when I realized that you couldn’t get go. So then I went back and carefully read the middle section and all the emotions and lessons in there. I guess it’s another reminder that life is about the journey, not the destination. A situation like this makes you grow in a different way — acceptance and allowing yourself to be bummed out, but not losing the big picture. Still sad for you, but thanks for sharing!
I know in my heart God has BIG plans for you…your time will come. Love your post..rings true for all of us in some way. xo
what a perfect read for me this morning….i too am learning to let go and let God. it never ceases to amazing me that something so simple as not worrying about what i can’t control, can be sooooo difficult. thank you again for your words and your timing on those exact words. maybe your story was all just to touch me…or the next guy to read this. thank you. m.
Sue, what a wonderful heartfelt heartache sharing! First know you are an inspiration in your pursuit in the Holy Yoga Instructor. I can feel your disappointment through all you have written. You are right with the title, “go with the flow!” It will all unfold in God’s good time. Meanwhile, I do hear God is speaking to you through the parents of your friend about taking a chance on driving with an “ABSOLUTELY NOT !” Keep stretching and keep trusting! physically, emotionally and spiritually!