#7 Afraid of your own Magic

I think there’s an entirely real fear of your own personal touch. Like I said in an earlier entry, sometimes your magic doesn’t get along with life’s should-be’s. Trouble is, those should-be’s are sometimes there for a reason. We shouldn’t go speeding down the back roads because it could get us in an accident. We shouldn’t overtrain at the gym because it could lead to injury. But if our entire life-force hinges on something that pushes against the way we ought to live, what do we do? 

This situation is getting a little complicated, isn’t it? On the one hand, we have inspiration. The will to live and the drive to get somewhere in this world. That’s important, right? On the other hand, we have the means to actually get there. Both are needed to do anything with your life, but both appear to be at odds with each other. How, then, do we balance the two? Or should we abandon the pursuit altogether and pick one or the other?

As silly as it sounds, I feel like many people actually do. Some run with their passions, flippantly saying “eh, it will all work out. Sorta… Ok, fine, nothing in life is perfect, but it could be worse.” And others lean towards sticking to the shallow end, only embracing what seems feasible and doable. I know my description may have sounded a wee bit biased, but I’m actually learning to straddle the line that divides the two. 

Lately, I have been trying to juggle these two forces with mixed success. I think part of it is looking at life in seasons, seeing the big picture of where we are in the song of our lives. I have times when I need to focus on the means, like when I need more sleep and less time gaming. Other times, I look at the span of my week and think “dang, I haven’t picked up the controller even once!” Both seasons are good to have, but both need to be regulated. I think the thing to remember is that each way of living can yield good results, but only when it is used as a “sometimes” thing, not an “all the time” thing. 

And speaking of the big picture, I think sometimes our magic touch has to be brought in and out as we walk the magical path we have chosen. For example, I am on the path to being a plumber. That’s magical to me. I’m inspired and driven to be on this path. But, along the way, I have to face a slew of things that might not be fun, inspiring, or even exciting. I have to sweep floors, lift painfully heavy things, and even go to class!

Gross!

But though not all those times will be fun or inspiring, they’re on the overall path that is. The more time passes, the more I realize how important it is to look at life from a bird’s-eye view. Sure, certain moments can be pivotal, and those little things do stack up, but it’s easy to obsess over the tiny things, neglecting the road we are traveling. Maybe it’s time to learn how to take a step back for a bit. 

So that’s what I pray for you: that you learn to take a step back to learn to control your magic. I pray you begin to know when it is best to fuel the spark that keeps you going, and when to reel it in for your own wellbeing. I pray you find your own balance, and that it serves you well. 

Until next time

May Peace be your Guide.