Limbo

I've never considered myself flexible. "Sit and reach" was not an easy task; apparently short legs also mean short ligaments (or it makes me feel better to think so). I had to  really reach my short arms to reach beyond my short legs, not a Kodak moment. Doing the splits, looks easy enough and should be easy since I have less distance to go to reach the ground, but this too...not a picture perfect moment.

I'd love to say that it's just my physic that's inflexible, but the sad reality is my heart and mind are pretty rigid too. I know the best way to become flexible is practice stretching those parts that don't move well.

I cannot help but think of the ever popular Chubby Checker song "Limbo Rock." To limbo means to bend and stretch keeping your body from touching the pole above and the ground below.  Both a test of flexibility and balance and precision. 

Based on my body's "bendability" Limbo is not a game I'd be betting my life savings against.

Ironically, I feel like I'm in a big game of limbo, stretching and bending beneath this bar of life, trying so hard to keep my feet moving and my body curving at just the right angle.

Many will reference Limbo as the space or area between two boundaries.  So much of me is in limbo.  My head and thoughts jumping to our new "adventure" (Japan) and my heart still in California (and so many other states).  Every time I think I'm getting a little more flexible and have mastered/improved my flexibility, the game changes; the bar lowers, taking me to new levels of limbo.  

My emotions are in constant limbo. My friends are still in reach, but just barely.  I'm grateful for flexibility of email and computers to stay in touch, all the while still training and stretching my muscles for the new levels yet to come.  

Physically I'm in limbo with a home, living in one place, but my stuff in another.  Finding that space that keeps me below the bar but above the ground. Balancing what we have with what we need and making it work.

I'm not nimble or quick in this contortion of  my body, it hurts and seems impossible. However in this game I've learned that slow and steady keeps me in the game.  I'll fall, I always do, but I get back up and try again. 

 The game of leaning back and bending beneath the bar of life is tough, it's long, it's hard, but it's satisfying and awesome to see my flexibility improve. God has allowed me to stay in this game for a reason and He's stretched me until my muscles ached, but now I'm stronger and more flexible because of His constant pulling and tugging on my  heart and soul muscles.

Be nimble and quick to jump in the game, the more we play, the more flexible we become. It's about time for a good long stretch! Let God pull you in The direction He wants to stretch you!