A friend once what I did if/when I had a “craving”. I laughed because my response surely would depend on what it is/was that I was “craving”.

Right now? I have a few cravings and so, I’m trying to move my life in such a direction as to be open to receive the answer to that craving.

I find myself craving PEACE…huge, soul-cleansing waves of peace. There is so much going on in our world, in our individual lives. I’m finding ways on a daily basis to restore a sense of peace to my spirit, to bring calm back to my mind. Quiet prayer in the middle of whatever is happening does that for me, helps me get back to center. Even if the prayer is simply, “Thank you” or “Father, yes”. Peace. I work through the clutter in my life - physical clutter, mental clutter, emotional clutter. I’m learning to not only LAY my burdens down but to LEAVE them down.

I find myself craving JOY…deep, soul-infusing constant streams of joy. Happiness is fickle, it tends to wait for just the “right” situation but JOY? JOY shows up in spite of the situation, regardless of the situation, in defiance of the situation. JOY isn’t reckless. Just confident. JOY knows that, despite how things look to the “naked eye”, this too shall pass. When your relationship ends and you’re in pain, Happiness seems to disappear. When you lose your job and the bills keep coming, Happiness wrings its hands. When our kids are treated as if they’re disposable, Happiness shrinks in to itself. But JOY? JOY will step boldly into the situation without hesitation or reservation and sing loud and off-key, “And I am telling you….I’m not going!”

I find myself craving WISDOM, INSIGHT…deep, soul-sharpening chunks of wisdom & insight. And so, I let life become my teacher, let life set the lesson plan while I focus on what’s happening in this life-long classroom. I used to chastise myself when I thought I’d “failed” one of life’s lessons but I’m learning that sometimes what I think was that was my spiritual SAT (Soul Attacking Trial) was simply the pre-test, the opportunity to really prepare for the lesson. I’ve also learned that there are many ways to ace the tests but you cannot cheat. Cheating will have you sitting in spiritual special ed, retaking the test until you master that specific lesson.

I find myself craving TRUTH, HONESTY…deep, soul-illuminating rays of TRUTH. It is an interesting craving. I find that many of us *say* we want TRUTH but when it shows up, naked and unashamed, we tend to backpedal cause TRUTH isn’t always pretty and it has some magical reflective properties to it. The thing about TRUTH is that, it doesn’t require a lot of dressing up. It doesn’t have to be rude, obnoxious, mean-spirited. Nor does it whisper its essence into the room. It doesn’t try to slink in unnoticed. It simply shows up. TRUTH knows who it is and can’t be shaken from its foundation regardless of how fabulous its imitator may be. TRUTH can be an interesting concept - what’s true for me may not be true for you but it’s still true. I’ve learned that not all truths are mine to tell and that some truths have timing issues. A truth-speaking friend of mine who does NOT dress it up in any way, shape, form, or fashion says that I’m very “diplomatic” with the truth. Perhaps. Perhaps to paraphrase the Sears motto, I want you to see “the softer side”. People hear truth through different filters so I try to adjust my delivery based on the situation - some people need that ’soft’ truth, others need the ‘in your face’ truth. (NOTE: I said adjust my DELIVERY - not the TRUTH). The goal is to simply live true, speak true, act true - regardless of delivery method.

I find myself craving INTIMACY - deep soul-quenching shockwaves of it that hug my spirit without ceasing.INTIMACY. Not “sex”. INTIMACY. In all my ‘top-tier’ relationships. I want to go deeper, to get naked, to simply be FREE, to find grace permeating our interactions. To find that place where I can simple shed all the barriers, deconstruct all the walls, pack away every single mask I’ve ever worn, and just show up as who I am knowing that THAT is all that’s required of me. To be scared if that’s what I feel. Or to be mad. To be able to talk about any and everything…or nothing at all. To know that my words - and my silence - are understood. To be able to dream - big, boldy, beautifully. To say that I hurt. That I’m lonely. That I messed up. That I don’t understand. That I don’t have the answer and that I’m not even sure of the question. To simply be who I am, feel what I feel, think what I think, want what I want, look how I look - without apology. And yes, it does apply to “him” who is being prepared for me just as I am being prepared for him.

I find myself craving simple pleasures - hearing kids laugh, watching them play. Good music. Good books. Poetry - lots and lots of poetry. Flowers. Jellybeans. Candles. Bubble baths. Delicious smelling and feeling bath products. The feel of silk across my skin. Thunderstorms. Spring showers. Sitting by the water. Walks in the park. Watching the leaves dress themselves in Fall colors. Good conversation. Laughter. Silence.

When I crave these things…PEACE, JOY, WISDOM/INSIGHT, TRUTH/HONESTY, INTIMACY, SIMPLE PLEASURES…I simply slow down long enough to realize that they are within my reach. And so I do. I reach. I reach out. I reach within. I touch. I embrace. I listen. I laugh.

I reciprocate.

And to answer that question from my friend, what do I do when I have a “craving”….
To you, I say this…
I’ll never tell. Ha!

*~*~*~*~

Be well.
Be bold.
Be free.
Be love.
Be you.
BE.

Live DELICIOUSLY!