Getting Comfortable In Our New “Norm”

Getting Comfortable In Our New “Norm” “Do not hold on to me.” We can hold on to past grudges, the spirit of our loved ones who have past and the painful memories of yesterday. We may feel the need to grasp at almost anything to keep us feeling as we did before. We could mindlessly let an event, haunting words or a feeling hold us hostage robbing us of our spirit. Our complicated hearts may try to keep us connected to what felt safe, normal, effortless and even a bit crazy. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”” We too, at some time that is right for us, can work toward letting go of feelings or circumstances that hold us back from experiencing the life that God intended for us. However, we may never let the past or our feelings about another leave us completely, and that is normal and okay. Today, we might feel as though we need to hold on, but one day, be encouraged to let go, one day and one step at a time. It is important that we expect that there will be days we will revert back, but don’t lose heart. Your progress may seen slow; so don’t beat yourself up. There will be days you may feel as though you give in barely enough to still live fruitfully allowing life to again resume. God is with us as we get more comfortable with change. God’s hand is on us as our lives miraculously can feel safe again. God is continually blessings us so that we may again feel joyous in our new “norm.” John 20:14–18 When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.