STAY IN YOUR OWN LANE
Two days of icy weather in Dallas, Texas means two days of warm fires, delicious food, great movies and more precious time with our beloved friend and family member by choice, Jacqueline Hartley who is visiting us from Santa Fe, New Mexico. We’ve had the best time swapping funny stories and sharing sage advice.
Just yesterday morning after breakfast, both Jacqueline and I were ramping up for our work days when I planted myself on top of the kitchen counter and wrangled her into another string of encouraging conversations. I said to her, “I so often find myself involved with and stressed out over other peoples stuff. And, the worst part is that I’m choosing to do this. Not one person has asked me if I would take on the stress in their lives.” To that, Jacque replied, “I stay in my own lane. I have no control over other people’s behavior. The only behavior I have control over is my own. So, I consciously choose to stay in my lane.” Wow! Wow! Wow! No truer words have ever been spoken.
When we’re driving somewhere, we may observe cars in others lanes, but our attention quickly returns to our lane and what we’re doing to stay in it. Being distracted by cars in other lanes doesn’t serve us and almost always ends in disaster. In life, it’s no different. When we become distracted with other lives instead of tending to our own, we suffer. And, quite honestly, sometimes I think I may keep myself distracted with other things so that I don’t have to face up to what’s actually going on in my lane. After all, other people’s stuff is always easier to sort through than our own, right? Humble me, Lord!
Today, back in my lane I go. I’m looking at my life and my stuff and dealing with it. Oh, joy! And, something tells me I have more than enough stuff of my own to keep me busy for, well, forever. While I have no control over other people’s life, I do have control over my own. If I find myself in someone else’s lane, I will send up a prayer for them and move right back over to my lane. This means I’m doing two productive things- praying for those I love and focusing on dealing with the stuff in my life that needs to be dealt with. How enticing is that?
Friends, thank you for being on this journey with me. Your kind words and emails encourage me to continue writing. It’s the story of my own life’s revelations big and small. And, to share them with friends like you, who are able to glean something from this blog, makes it all worthwhile. I’m no preacher or teacher or sage by any means. I’m just a girl with epiphanies and experiences and humbling moments that I’m eager to share. Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, I hope you’re in your own lane, in the moment, enjoying the view.
Stay Divine,
JL PARISH
