Embrace Uncertainty

Good Morning!

I hope you made some time to rest and refresh this weekend. Many of us begin the weekend with uncertainty, but in the end, we find surprises that bring us great joy. Whatever you decided to do, I’m hopeful that the process afforded you some time to decompress and relax.

I’ve been thinking recently about uncertainty. I remembered times when I had everything planned but was unable to fulfill them due to something unforeseeable. For example, once I was preparing for a small dinner party. As my guests began to arrive, I realized that I wasn’t comfortable with the amount of food prepared. You see, my home is always open to friends of friends. During this particular event, just about every guest brought an additional person.  

Now, I tend to over-cook (consequences of coming from a cooking family and being Italian), so I’m generally prepared for something similar to happen. This time, I had to think quickly and get pretty creative about a solution to feed the additional guests. It was crazy for a bit, and I found myself challenged in ways I hadn’t experienced for quite a while. In the end, I created some new dishes to offer, and, frankly, it was one of my better meals. I think about how embracing the uncertainty of that day ended with much joy and laughter. It makes me smile each time I remember the kaleidoscope of feelings I experienced and the genuine delight of my friends.

Taking inventory and an honest look at where we are in life and our willingness to face uncertainty with a leap of faith takes courage. There’s a great deal of strength needed to embrace uncertainty and successfully maneuver through processes we didn’t even know existed.

Bill Goff, New York Times best-selling author and speaker, shares his thoughts:

Others share these sentiments:

“Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the beauty of becoming. When nothing is certain, anything is possible.” Mandy Hale

“Don’t be afraid to take an unfamiliar path. Sometimes they’re the ones that take you to the best places.” Unknown Author

“When you become comfortable with uncertainty, infinite possibilities open up in your life.” Eckhart Tolle

“Looking deeper, we could say that the real cause of suffering is not being able to tolerate uncertainty.” Pema Chödrön

In his book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, author Mark Batterson shares his insights regarding uncertainty. Mr. Batterson notes that uncertainty is a constant in our lives. Uncertainty, while difficult for us to maneuver through well, serves a distinct purpose in that it is aligned with God’s infinite complexity. The reality that is we remain infinitely uncertain, while God continues to be infinitely complex. This line of thought results in wonderment as we consider that faith does not reduce uncertainty; instead, faith embraces the complications that arise and enriches our relationship with God.

Think about a time when you were all set for a day of celebration. Things were going along well, and then there were challenges. Things got a little hectic for a while, and it felt as though the day would be ruined. Maybe the turkey wasn’t finished in time, or the oven caught on fire. Then everyone pulled together and saved the day.

I’m sure you have stories of that nature when, at the time, you felt all hope was lost. When you feel challenged now, think about that day and how it ended with unity and creativity. The result is an excellent narrative of embracing uncertainty, which produced a favorable outcome that will be shared for many gatherings to come.

This week, embrace uncertainty without looking for a specific or immediate result. Then anticipate the positive outcome that will come from the experience. In the meantime, allow the wonderment of Divine plans to enrich your life. I can say from experience that the wait will be worthwhile!

Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda