A friend of mine shared this “tool” that her daughter uses and I thought we could all benefit from her wisdom.

Have you heard of “Rant Rides”?

It’s a simple process with two simple rules:

  1. The Ranter does not drive
  2. The Driver does not speak

When things are bubbling, when the fuse is short, when you are flooded to overflow, when you need to just let it all out – it’s time for a Rant Ride!

To rant is defined as “to speak or shout at length in a wild, impassioned way.”

A safe space to spill!

A messy space to murmur!

A quiet space to quake!

A fast space to flood!

A private space to purge!

Sometimes we just need to say all the things without self-criticism or judgment, without questioning or second-guessing, without condemnation or the need to apologize. We need someone on our side even if we are dead wrong and deluded – just for a moment – to know that someone who has our back and holds that space to feel all the feels so we can get free!

Just because you say it does not make it true – it just gets it out of you and out of you it easier to see and deal with. Out of you you can discern, digest and discard. It doesn’t have to mean anything – it’s just loaded words that need to explode so you don’t implode.

So get a driver and speak or shout at length in a wild, impassioned way until you are finished.

Don’t discuss it, don’t try to figure it out, don’t worry about making sense – just rant!

And when you’re done go get ice cream and celebrate the freedom you find on the other side of the rant! And be ready to drive when it’s your friend’s turn for a rant ride!

This line from the movie Enola Holmes grabbed my heart,

“If you stay true to yourself, your path will find you again.”

-Wise, wise words from Enola’s mom to her.

Seems counterintuitive at first. I believe we feel like we are supposed to chase, search, dig, pursue, find. All of us in pursuit of a path – our path. The path designed for us, the path that lights up our hearts, the path we feel called to follow. This mysterious path seemingly

lost to us,

hidden,

out of reach

but maybe this is because our focus is off and we are looking for the wrong thing, in the wrong direction.

What does it mean to stay true to yourself?

What does that mean to you?

Does staying true to yourself look like saying “yes” more? Saying “no” more? Speaking up or sitting quiet more often? Is it turning in and feeling deep pain? Is it moving out and letting go? Is it stepping into something that makes you feel courageous, grounded or inviting? Does it stretch you or comfort you? Can you stay out of judgment and choose curious? What if you lived more expectant versus setting expectations? Can you see the opportunity in all of it – the pain, the joy, the trials, the ease – can you see how God can use it ALL for your good? What does staying true to yourself look, feel, smell, taste and sound like? Would you be willing to explore that? Does being true to yourself come easy to you or is it hard? Does it throw off perfection and instead offer transparency, authenticity and vulnerability? Does that scare you or excite you? Where do you feel that in your body? How long has it been since you have asked your heart what it desires? Do you honor what it needs? Have you ever even stopped to think what being TRUE TO YOURSELF actually means to you?

It’s different for each of us because we are uniquely fearfully and wonderfully made!

Can you stop looking for the path and look in the mirror?

Your path will find you!

Your path will find you!

Your path will find you again!

What are you missing?

What aren’t you seeing?

What magic is going unnoticed?

It’s all around us…this magic! And we miss it all time because we are too busy, too distracted, too focused on the wrong things sometimes, too stuck looking in the wrong direction, at the wrong stuff!

The details are important. Personally, I think God is talking to us all the time in the details of our lives.

The thought crosses your mind before you walk out the door – grab a sweater and you think, “No, it’s hot outside” and you get to lunch and the restaurant is freezing.

Feel like maybe you should take “this” alternate route to work but ignore the push and get stuck at a train for 15 minutes making you late as a result.

Listening to a podcast or watching a video and you think to yourself, “Oh, I should save this link” but you don’t stop to do so and talking with someone later in the day the message comes back to mind and you want to share but can’t find the link anymore.

So many little moments, so many little, missed moments…

I believe those little nudges are that still, small voice calling to us, calling for our attention. They whisper, “Pay attention! Listen up! Hey, notice this!” And we blow past it!

Unaware

Distracted

Busy…

What OBVIOUS, hidden messages are you missing? Hidden in plain sight, right?

The sweet butterfly that hovers to kiss you – maybe a sweet reminder of your passed mom.

The kind smile from a stranger – the balm for your heart that you didn’t even know you needed.

The quiet nudge to wear a certain necklace – because you will be asked later to give it away to someone who needs to know how special they are.

All the little ways He works in our lives. We look for answers in the distance thinking they are somewhere out there, far away in the future but the truth is – maybe they are right at your feet!

Little purple flowers hidden below.

Walking up the hill, Marc said, “Do you see the purple flowers?” I had to stop, bend and look deep to find them hidden below…little treasures to delight!

Sweet little purple flowers that remind me to

slow

bend

notice.

God is the WORD, He is never silent.

He is Living Water, never dry.

He is always moving, always speaking, always orchestrating on your behalf!

Look for and listen for all the ways He is making Himself known to you and for you! You are not alone, Holy Spirit, our Comforter, our Counselor, is near, present and actively showing up in the little details of your every moment! Look for the “little purple treasures” all around you!