Shaken & Stirred

Shaken.

I think we’ve all felt shaken before – at least to some degree.

… Sometimes it’s something massive with far-reaching effects, like a worldwide pandemic – hitting us and upending our sense of normalcy unexpectedly, like an earthquake that sends structure and balance tumbling down, with after-quakes and rubble to sift through.

… Sometimes it’s something more individual or personal – affecting only ourselves and those closest to us, like a health scare or a time of lots of changes in lifestyle or work.

… Sometimes it’s good – a promotion or a new little bundle of joy, shaking up our day-to-day routine in a multitude of wild, crazy, topsy-turvy ways, where we hold on tight and enjoy the sleep deprived but ever-joyous ride.

… Sometimes it’s bad – like the loss of someone special, with all of the emotions that go along with it, filling your heart with fear, anger, grief, and feelings one can’t quite describe in words.

… And, sometimes, it’s lots of these at once – earthquakes, after-quakes, and rumbles, big and small, good and bad – that come in waves and eventually settle, though always leaving a mark.

It’s what’s been happening recently. I feel it now and I could feel it a few months ago, sitting in the living room with my husband after story-time, prayer, and tuck-in time with our little toddler (and our puppy, of course).

We talked about our new normal and new routines that we’ve created over the last couple years – new house, new jobs, new baby, new professional pursuits and passion projects – as well as the recent quakes we and our loved ones have been recalibrating from. We reflected for a few minutes on the rumbles and quakes in the rear view mirror, trying to optimistically forecast when the dust would finally settle, sitting in the peace of that moment. And in that moment I immediately realized I was holding my breath – because in my gut I couldn’t help but sense that the ground was about to rumble again soon.

And it did…

It made me think how this is not something unique to our life story right now. Many of us have had times of big changes – good and bad – and it sure does seem they often happen in clusters. After all, my mom always says things happen in 3’s (or, if recent history is any indicator, in multiples of 3’s).

But it also happens this way in nature – chaos begets chaos. It changes structures, environments, circumstances, and even us along the way, leaving an impression long after the calmness has returned.

… Like when earthquakes trigger tsunamis… which create a huge whirlpool swirling in the water… threatening ships and surely terrifying everyone in them, until the chaos settles and the waters once again become tranquil.

Aren’t our lives the same way? Circumstances shake us up, sometimes with waves making once the smooth waters of our lives choppy – sometimes strong enough they send us spinning, searching for stillness.

Though sometimes those shakes, waves, and swirls change not only the environment, they also change us – stirring up in us a new appreciation of the big and little things in life, making us less intent on trying to control everything, with fewer worries (because although we may be more aware than ever of threats and possible fears, we finally realize worrying is wasted energy and surely we have much better things to do with our precious time). Sometimes the chaos gives us a more focused perspective on what’s most important.

… Stirring up a new approach to the big picture as well as the little moments of this precious life.

… Stirring up something new in us.

… Stirring up hope that when the ground stops rumbling and the water calms, we will find ourselves right where we are supposed to be: stronger and wiser, shaken and stirred.