I have to be honest. I am not the world’s best listener. In fact, I’m kind of a terrible listener. I’m often told that I have the gift of gab, but I’m not so sure I’d call it a “gift” unless you’re the quiet type who hates silence. I can fill just about any moment of silence, taking only brief breaks to inhale a breath to keep from passing out. Yes, I can shoot the breeze right out of you if you give me the chance. Sometimes when I’ve spent too many hours staring at a computer screen, the moment the doorbell rings, the phone buzzes or an unexpected visitor pops in, my mouth explodes with a force comparable to Mt. St. Helen.
Thankfully, I’m not a lost cause. I am not in total denial. I have identified my problem. And knowing is half the battle, right? So on days when I am acutely aware of my tendency to talk, I metaphorically zip my lips after asking one question:
“What are you looking for?”
No matter what the person has contacted me for, this question usually forces a halt. To think. And consider carefully how they will answer this simple yet profound question.
You see, we’re all looking for something. In the busyness of life, we are not always aware of our searching, but in the moments of waiting, when the seconds slow to a crawl of the speed of coagulated honey, something inside reminds us. The search is not over.
Some of us are a few steps ahead. Some are behind. Some are actually not sure where or how to begin. But it’s not a race. Each person’s journey is unique and evolving.
Why I ask is not to bother you, but hopefully to inspire you. To consider the brevity of life and to take time to think about what it is that you want to find.
Centuries ago, shepherds and wise man walked miles on end to search for a baby. Their guidance was a star. Their journey was long. Their drive was a promise. A promise to the end of all searching.
To many, it’s just a sweet tale told annually with the backdrop of animals in a barn and a star floating above. To others, it’s a tradition told so often that the star has lost its luster. Still to others, it’s a carol sung along to each December.
To some, the story is true. The manger holds the answer. The babe is everything.
The shepherds spent so much time guiding their herds. Upon arrival in Bethlehem, they found their guiding light. The magi came bearing gifts of costly scents and gems. They found their king that day, a diamond of eternal worth. Lying in a manger. Of all places.
So I ask once more. What are you looking for? This holiday season, answer that question for yourself. And then continue your search. Treasuring the process but never ceasing until you find it.
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IF YOU LIKED THIS WATERFALL, YOU MIGHT WANT TO DIVE INTO:
LIVIN’ IN A MATERIAL WORLD OR
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY OR
WRITER’S BLOCK :)
Dive Into Another Waterfall:
Seek and ye shall find…