My husband Matt and I have this silly thing we say to each other: “I’m in a holding pattern”. Essentially, it means I’m not actually doing anything but I can’t stop moving and it’s stressing me out. I often find myself in a holding pattern when Matt is about to leave the house and he’s rushing around getting ready, but I’m just staying home. The way out is almost always the same: sit down. Stop moving, stop rushing, stop doing nothing as fast as possible. And often, from my now seated position, I can see one thing that would make sense for me to do.
My favorite author, Emily P. Freeman, talks a lot about sitting down on the inside, and I think it’s kind of the same thing. For me, a holding pattern in my soul means I’m not at peace. During advent, as we reflect on Christ being the Prince of Peace, one important aspect of his peace-bringing is that we have peace with God (Romans 5:1) Peace with God means I don’t have to earn salvation. I don’t have to rush around and try to make something happen. I don’t have to win God’s approval. It means I can sit down, and know that whatever is happening around me, I am ok. Sitting down on the inside means I’m not trying to accomplish something that’s not my job. From that place of peace, I can see the small tasks that God has given me to accomplish.
May God give us the grace to sit down on the inside, letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, so that we may do only what he’s called us to do.