Season of Splinter Removal

This past summer was a splintery season. Not even sure where to start, but skidding the surface there’s the neighbor serving a hefty prison sentence, unexpected blows from within our church, tension with family members, and grappling with loved ones facing physical and mental struggles.

Not to mention I haven’t felt this spiritually beat up since a time of great loss in my life seven years ago.

Mercy.

If you’ve been coming around here for a while you know I’m not one to let splinters remain stuck.

I’ve officially entered a season of splinter removal. And the pain on the way out mimics the piercing on the way in.

Here’s what I’m doing about it (8 Things I’m Working to Improve in My Life Right Now + a bonus lesson):

Putting Down the Gavel

Not judging someone based on flubbed words. Searching for a Timberjack Harvester to help me extract the ginormous log from my own eyes.

Full Forgiveness

None of this half-assed all smiles and rainbows stuff. Forgiving like this is torrential hailstorm smack me in the face painful.

Full Love

Loving family right where they’re at. Loving everyone right where they’re at.

Integrity

Saying what I mean and meaning what I say.

Dukes Up

Fighting spiritual distractions. Taking up my sword of the Spirit and holding firm to my shield of faith (oh yeah, I’m all over Ephesians 6:11-20 lately).

Leaving Bitterness to Citrus Peels & Dark Chocolate

Identifying areas of hurt and dealing with them, not letting them fester and mold into bitterness.

Care Less

It threw me when I kept getting this message from God. Finally I understood the meaning. Let go of things that aren’t eternal or encouraging. Care less about the petty, the cutting, the discouraging, things that will seem insignificant a year or two from now.

In God I Trust

It feels like I’m the eternal unfinished novel with this one.

I Like to Move It, Move It

Moving on when time calls for it. Not dwelling, stewing, or reflecting like that Narcissus dude that got zapped into a flower.

Not a single pain-free process of splinter removal up there. But some of it has sloughed off surprisingly quickly, like that splinter you cringed to think of being yanked from the pad of your foot only to squeeze your eyes shut and open them to see it pinched between your father’s fingers. He took it. All of it up there (up there in this post and up there on the cross). By his death he removed every last splinter and every splinter that has yet to pierce.

Such freedom in that. I can run free.

Ever been through a specific season of splinter removal?

*photo by stock.XCHNG

**I'm also relearning math as apparently there are NINE things listed up there. Eh well.