Beatrice Schultz

Hello October 

One of my favorite poems is by Alfred Lord Tennyson; The Charge of the Light Brigade. 

The second stanza specifically stands out for me. 

“Forward, the Light Brigade!”

Was there a man dismayed?

Not though the soldier knew

   Someone had blundered.

   Theirs not to make reply,

   Theirs not to reason why,

   Theirs but to do and die.

   Into the valley of Death

   Rode the six hundred.

Why would soldiers continue to march on knowing fully well that their commander had made a mistake? Why would they not reason why? Why would they ride into the valley of death? 

Sometimes in life it feels as though we are marching into the valley of death, it feels as though we don’t have command over our own lives.

Plans marked out, dreams hoped for: all crumbled at our feet. Hearts broken, heads down we drag ourselves through the day hoping there is purpose in it all. 

What I have come to learn is that we often can not change the circumstances that we find ourselves in. 

Whether its continuously applying for jobs and getting rejection letter after rejection letter, or going on dates hoping to meet your life partner but not finding “the one” or trying for a baby year after year and walking about with an empty womb and empty arms. 

We may not be able to change the situations. 

However, we can change how we look at the situation, we can change our attitudes towards the waiting period.

When I used to read the scripture: “But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31- 

I thought that the strength spoken about would be attained as I would wait and wait and wait and then suddenly I would get supernatural strength and soar above the circumstances . 

The older I get and the more I read that verse I realize that it is in the waiting, the falling and the failure that character is developed and resilience muscles built. It is not so much about acquiring that desire but more about building character. 

Its the continuing to try even though things look bleak, its the tenacity to hold on and keep moving that gives you the strength to try again. 

Life can be hard and disheartening and sometimes it can truly feel like all odds are against you but in to midst of the storm, right in the eye of it. Thats where it is the most calm. 

There are times when we truly do not know nor understand why things happen the way they do, and you find yourself at a fork of should I give up or should I keep going? 

The question we should rather learn to ask is who am I and what is the legacy I want to leave behind, 

When things begin to look grim, when it feels like life is throwing hands, that is the time to return to yourself and remind yourself of who you are. 

You are not defined by your job, who you marry nor your ability to have children. 

When all the things you want to acquire are stripped away what is left behind? 

You…

And you are enough just as you are. 

So take heart, we may not understand it all the time when things do not go as planned, and nothing is more painful than continuously waiting for something that seems so effortless for others to acquire, but remember all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and have been called according to His purpose. 

Or as they say you can look at the glass half full or you can look at it half empty. Or you can just  drink the water . 

It is mindset that allows someone who looks like they have nothing to live a happy and fulfilled life and someone with all the opportunities and riches in the world to be bitter and angry. 

If we continuously focus on what we do not have our heart’s will be filled with sadness.

However if we continuously focus on what we do have we shall begin to cultivate an attitude of gratitude and in doing so fill our hearts with joy. 

Remember that there has never been a storm that rages forever, after a while the sun will shine again and the plants will bloom. 

We can not grown without a little bit of storms. 

May October be kind to you, may it be filled with breakthroughs and née opportunities. 

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”— Proverbs 13:12-