Renewal & the Phoenix
The Lord bless you
and keep you;the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;the Lord turn his face towards you
Numbers 6: 24-26
and give you peace.
God has a funny way of being with us at all times. Showing up in the smallest moments.
I haven’t been back to Phoenix, Arizona for over three years since I graduated from college. Phoenix is such an interesting name for a city.
One of my favorite movie scenes is the phoenix in Harry Potter. A phoenix is a mythological bird that cyclically regenerates or is otherwise born again. Associated with fire and the sun, a phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor. In the movie, the phoenix seems to have a bit of a temper tantrum that causes it to implode.
I somewhat always identified with the phoenix being born again. Self–destructive behavior is when you do something that’s sure to cause self-harm, whether it’s emotional or physical. Some self–destructive behavior is more obvious, such as: attempting suicide, binge eating, and compulsive activities like gambling, gaming, or shopping.
The cycle of destruction can be difficult to witness, and even more difficult to live. However, there is hope that remains in the promise of what is on its way. There is somehow assurance that we will be renewed.
It doesn’t take long to learn that this grace should not be taken for granted. Positive change comes from being able to recognize the negative patterns in our lives and addressing them.
Take some time to commit to a mindset of renewal.