Your center is fixed. It doesn’t move around. I mentally highlighted those words as I read them. It’s not a foreign concept for me. The core is important in exercise. You first must strengthen it before you can expect the rest of your body to follow form. An anchor holds a ship tight, keeping it from drifting aimlessly into unfamiliar waters.  We all know the story about a house built on solid ground versus sinking sand. Foundation is critical.

I’m back to an earlier struggle, the one where I seek a focus for my efforts, something I can lock in and devote myself to, a purpose if you will. A core. A foundation. A center. Without it, I feel like my path will resemble urban sprawl. Not well planned, just haphazard and random. Inconvenient and cumbersome. Splintered in a hundred directions. 

My previous mental highlight from the same book: There has never been a time when nothing happened. The world never stops turning, time never stops ticking. We are in perpetual motion, whether we like it or not. We can’t actually stop. We can’t press pause. With every day, I am missing the chance to do something positive, to fulfill my purpose.

These were my thoughts on Thursday afternoon. I just couldn’t get to my computer to post because there was a lot going on this past week. Calie’s big event, the Women’s Wellness Weekend was Friday and Saturday, her family was in town, last-minute preparations were in play. And then, my time was dedicated to helping Calie pull off the event. I took out trash, I moved tables, I manned the registration booth, I worked with interns, I supported speakers, I catered to needs of exhibitors. And here and there I got to hear portions of the presentations.

On Sunday, after more than 24 hours straight with a bunch of women, the dust finally settled, allowing me time to get back to writing. As I was forced to get in touch with my feminine side over the weekend, I was granted with additional food for thought. The endearing message throughout Calie’s event was the idea of “the next step” meaning what small change will/can you make today that will help you lead a healthier life. One of Calie’s speakers was staying at our house, and she talked a lot about “the next step” and the spiritual basis it had for her. The fact that we are only required to take the next step, not figure out what it is. God will deliver instructions for that. And once we take that step, he’ll tee up the next one. Otherwise, there is no faith required. If I can map it out, chart the course, there is no need for me to trust, other than to trust that God will help me be successful.

Hearing Calie and her speaker friend talk about next steps, etc. all weekend helped me get my head back on straight. It helped me trace back the earlier understanding I had, with help from a counselor, that my purpose for being here is to enjoy relationship with God. That’s the calling. That is the core. That is the center which doesn’t move. That is the anchor that prevents me from wandering. That is the master plan that ensures no urban sprawl.  I also said earlier that I felt God’s next step for me was to help others. Just to respond to those in need around me. I watched my wife do that with about a hundred women, all of them showing up with an unmet need related to their physical, emotion or spiritual health. I was proud of her. I was about to get disappointed that I hadn’t been helping anyone, despite my declaration to start doing just that. Since signing up for the call, I hadn’t experienced anyone in need. Frustrating!

And then, I realized that Calie had needed help to pull off this event, to help other women. In this case, my next step was to help her take hers. And I felt genuinely good about it, which shows progress on my part. A year ago, I would have slightly resented her for having a clear path and a purpose to pursue while I was floundering in sprawl. But watching her plan unfold is consistent with the next step concept. She didn’t map her current journey. She’s didn’t plan the course. It has taken her along for the ride, and she’s been obedient to the call.

Okay, I am dialed back in again. Sorry to have temporary lost my bearings, but it’s easy to do. And yes, it’s true that there has never been a time when nothing happened. Which means I can expect a next step again tomorrow and the next day. The key is to just keep walking.

p.s. I really hope that receiving deep insight from a women’s event doesn’t hurt my man club membership status.