Longing + Lingering | A New Rhythm + Perspective Starting A New Year

The Susan Beth Podcast - Purpose, Intentional Living

Happy New Year. It’s our first episode in the new year and I’m so grateful you are here. A few months ago I did an episode talking about some things we could be intentional about as we headed into a season filled with extra activities and celebrations. Lots of expectations and traditions wrapped up in the middle of it all and it can be a lot. I’m pretty sure the intention I started out with in that episode was expectations and emphasized the importance of holding our expectations loosely. Keeping our focus on what really matters and being flexible with everything else. Have I ( as I’m sure many of you have as well) had the opportunity to stand in this intention and choice? I was getting ready to give some specific plans that got changed but then realized I didn’t know that there wasn’t anything that didn’t get changed in the past 6 weeks or so. And yet because I continued to surrender my expectations and plans God’s peace surrounded my heart and mind. I saw God’s hand bring comfort healing and laughter in walking through unexpected changes of plans and extended ICU stays of close family members. Another reminder is that the highlights on social don’t always convey the whole story. It’s not being fake or trying to hide anything. Sometimes posts or podcast episodes are made and then things change and sometimes you hold close the photos of those you love in hospital gowns and feel protective of sharing in-the-moment details to anyone and everyone who follows you. Hopefully, today that family member is leaving the lengthy ICU stay and heading to a rehabilitation center where the supernatural healing will continue. Plans can be canceled and plans can be rescheduled. And love and faithfulness can be walked out through it all. I had several thoughts in my mind the last week as we were walking out of a calendar year and into a new one. And the past few years I have noticed how differently I move into a new year. I still feel the excitement of welcoming a new year … but I don’t feel the pressure or urge to goal set and plan. And again I love those things. But I find myself not hurrying to take down the Christmas decorations and I’m finding so much joy in lingering in season. So even though I have seen this change and recognized it in me it wasn’t until the end of this year that I think I know what shifted the experience for me. I’ll share more about that in a minute but I first wanted to share an experience I had the morning of the last day of the year. You know I love seeing the sunrise in the morning. And this is something I do most mornings. And maybe once a week or so I will go to a favorite spot to take it in. I especially like to do this on special days. I typically drive out to the beach on my birthday. Even though I’m not what they would call a beach bum and don’t go that often to the beach during the day. I was born in July in South Florida and so something about watching the sunrise at the beach with my feet in the sand feels right to me. And I’m not driving to Miami where I was born for those of you listening who don’t know I live in North Florida and get to beach access within 20 minutes. So that’s handy HA! So a few days ago instead of walking outside of my house or down the street, I decided I would go to one of my favorite spots Which happens to overlook the St Johns River that runs through our city to watch the sun rise on the last day of the year. Watching the sunrise has become something I absolutely love and long for these days This is why something I noticed within me surprised me and caused me to ask myself some questions… You might already know this but it’s something I wasn’t aware of until I started walking or watching the sunrise. The sky appears lighter as it is rising but it is still some time before you can actually witness the light breaking through and fully appearing. I mean I”m sure I learned that at some point but yet another thing I didn’t retain ;) The reason I’