The Hard Work of Growth

Getting Unstuck From Our Patterns
This past Sunday (July 19) I spoke on getting "unstuck" from our patterns. These patterns are entrenched ways of behaving, relating, acting, and doing life that sometimes do not serve us well...or serve others well. In fact, they very well may sabotage our effectiveness and our success...not to say the least our relationships. I have witnessed many marriages sabotage themselves due to the fact unhealthy patterns had developed over the years between the couple but yet they were unable or unwilling to make the changes necessary to enable them to function in a healthier manner. Growth is not always easy work. Sometimes it takes some necessary soul work. The following is what Lynda, my wife, wrote about the hard work of growth. I believe she describes it very well:

"I have been waging a battle all summer in my front flower bed. It's a battle between me and the Bermuda Grass. I have to be honest and say I neglected that bed last summer. So this spring I declared battle and with Scott's help old plants were removed and new ones planted.But the Bermuda Grass keeps returning. I pull and pull, spray Round Up, and pull some more.It had been 2 weeeks since my last surge to get rid of all the grass. So, I tackled it once again today. I decided I needed to dig a little deeper, get more of those roots that run deep and criss cross all over that flower bed. Hard work- yes. But is anything really worthwhile easy?That flower bed is really like my soul. How many times have I tried to just work hard enough to clean up the surface so my life looks nice. But I have left all the tangled roots deep below the surface. All those behaviors and patterns that hinder my relationships with others and with God eventually make their way back to the the surface of my soul.So how do I get at those roots? How do I get them out of the Garden of my Soul?When I look at what I did with my flower bed today, I have got to work at it. There has to be some purposeful action. And, the hardest part, I've got to dig deep. Probably deeper than I ever knew I had to dig.It's hard work, very hard work. Just as my muscles ache and my hands are sore, my soul may feel tender and bruised in the process.But the hope that I cling to and the promises I hold dear, remind me that the work pays off. My flower bed will thrive, and so will my soul and my relationship with others. I've got to keep tending to my Garden. Blessings for today."

The question sometimes has to be asked - am I willing to do the hard work necessary to grow in my life, in my relationships, in my emotional maturity?

Helpful Resources
I mentioned Sunday morning that there have been some resources helpful for me and I want to pass these titles on to you. You can order these at any bookstore or through Amazon.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Peter Scazzero
How Can I Let Go If I Don't Know I'm Holding On, Linda Douty
A Resilient Life, Gordon MacDonald
One Day At A Time, Trevor Hudson
Change Your Mind and Your Life Will Follow, Karen Casey

These are just a few that I have found helpful. You may have others. The key is to keep on growing and doing the "digging" and "weeding" that helps us get rid of those unhealthy patterns.