RELEASE

According to Merriam-Webster, release has several meanings, including “ to set free, relieve, or give up; to relieve something that holds or burdens.” When we tenaciously hold onto someone or something, a thought, an idea or a behavior, we do not allow ourselves to grow and thrive. In fact, we do just the opposite. We regress into those more primitive emotions of resentment, anger, fear and perhaps even jealousy.

Holding on to negative thoughts and emotions keeps us from feeling contentment in the present moment and keeps us from growing into our future. Instead we remain mired in the past of what was, or old dreams of what might have been. Just as the clothing of childhood no longer fits or suits us, old ideas no longer fit our present reality and keep us from imagining new and better dreams, dreams that “fit” where we are right here and right now.

God did not create us to stagnate, but to grow in love, in wisdom and in grace each and every day. When we let go of that which no longer serves us in the interest of discovering something even more beautiful, enlightening and precious - we breathe easily once more. That is the peace and wonder of release. It brings us freedom from pain and want. It allows us to let go and let God be God in our lives.

If something is not working, despite our best efforts to force it to do so over and over again, that is a sure sign that whatever THAT is, it is time to release it into the wisdom of Spirit … release it into the grace and love of God where that desire is turned into something even better, something more in line with the desires of our hearts where God lives. When we put on the freeing garment of release, we let go of guilt, shame, anger, resentment and all the fears that keep us frozen in place, that keep us small when we are meant to be great.