The plates are stacked neatly inside my cupboard.  Dinner dishes are arranged in one mountain of expectation – inviting large portions of wholesome food to linger there.  Salad bowls sit close by, winking at me and smiling at the thought of organic produce.  The dessert plates hover above because I have always loved dessert- especially chocolate.  The plates appear perfect- unblemished at first glance.  Looking closer there is one stray plate with a tiny chip.  Broken yet whole.  The plates remind me of my journey- moving from brokenness to wholeness.

So what do you do when you’re in a crisis?  When your feet are mired in the mud and muck of unexpected trials?  How do you move forward to a new place- a firm place for your feet to stand?

1. Grieve.  Grieve deeply and at no set pace.  Be kind to your broken spirit- laugh and weep with abandon.  Ignore voices from well-meaning friends who urge you to move on.  You need to do the hard, important work of mourning.

2. Cry out.  Cry out in place of prayer. Insert your calm, quiet prayers in your bedside drawer and cry out to the LORD. We often can’t find the words to form a coherent prayer when we are broken. Crying out to Him loudly and unashamed helps us to recognize His Presence, His Grace.

3. Immerse.  Immerse yourself in songs of Praise and Scripture. Pour over the Psalms and Isaiah. Drink in the pain and the promise found there. Splurge on some colorful index cards and write out your verses. Post them where you will find them waiting to comfort you throughout your day: on the bathroom mirror, on the door of your frig, on your steering wheel, and at your desk. Sing along with your favorite Praise songs- this is no time to be shy- belt those lyrics out in the shower, your car, your kitchen.  Apply the words of Scripture and the lyrics of Praise to your wounded heart like a healing salve. They will offer a cooling sense of relief and stillness.

4. Seek.  Seek Christian counsel from someone who is not emotionally connected to you. They can offer objective, sound thoughts to your questions. Notice I said they offer thoughts, not answers.

5. Nourish.  Nourish your body with exercise and simple, wholesome food. A walk outdoors, a deep stretch on your yoga mat, an invigorating run, and simply breathing in and out will connect you to your body, mind, and spirit. Take the time to prepare a meal that is simple and healthy. And most importantly, chew. Chew slowly, deliberately.  Linger over the textures and tastes your palate encounters.

6. Connect. Stay connected to a small group of core friends. This may be people in your small group at church or family and friends who get you- really get you.

7. Look.  Look out and up. Resist the temptation to isolate yourself and burrow inward. Instead look out- look outward to others- what is happening in their world. Look up. Look up to Jehovah and just be with Him. Stay away from the Enemy’s pit of blame and what-ifs.

8. Write.  Even if you do not fancy yourself a ‘journal-er,’ record your thoughts, emotions, and prayers. After time has passed, revisit your words. You will marvel at how far God has brought you.

9. Trust.  Begin to trust your heart and body once again. Sometimes this means listening to the way you speak to yourself inside your head. Is the tone you use kind? Are you compassionate? Do you offer your spirit forgiveness instead of blame?

10. Cast.  Cast your crystal ball to the side. Stop yourself from walking down the path of gazing into the future. Stay Here, in the Now. Put your arm around Today and hold this gift close.

Opening the cupboard, I gaze at the elegant white dishes.  My eye rests on the chipped plate.  I take it out and hold it carefully. Lovingly I place it on the table. It is broken yet beautifully whole. Just like each of us. I think it’s time for dessert.

Colossians 2:10: “…..and in Christ you have been brought to wholeness…”