Going in Circles

Going in Circles--

Setting on my desk is a round container designed to hold BB's.  There are no BB's in that container.

Yesterday afternoon my grandson, Jack, brought a gift to me.  He said it took him a long time to collect the inhabitants of that round container.  He said he had to chase them.  Once he caught them, he placed them in the container.  And now three Lady Bugs are circling the inside of that container expecting to find a way out.  It won't happen.  The only way out is for me to open the lid and give them freedom.

There is nothing for them to do but circle.  They can't fly.  There is nothing to eat inside the cylinder.  They simply have to go in unending circles.  I waited until he was gone to set them free.

All of that made me think about life.  Humans aren't confined in round cylinders with no way out.  Yet, there are certainly times in life when we feel trapped.  Just like the Lady Bugs, we go in circles ending right back at the beginning.  It happens to everyone.  At one time or another in our lives, we experience frustrations that seem to have no way around, through or out.  We circle.  Maybe there is comfort in circling.

How could there be comfort in circling, you ask?  Well, it could be that as we circle, we think about our  challenge.  Thinking is a good way to assess exactly what is going on.  Sometimes we cannot change anything.  But there is something we can do.  We can change our own attitude towards our challenges.  We have the ability to understand that while nothing may change outwardly, inwardly we can see things through new eyes.  It isn't easy, that's for sure.

It could be that while we are circling, we are buying time.   During challenging times, taking time to think, pray, visit with others, listen, read offers us new ways to see our own situation.  While the end result may remain the same, our understanding can change.  It is possible that we might notice all the help and support others have so graciously given.   Nothing touches us like a friend or family member who understands our hurts and reaches out with love to comfort us.  Buying time means we haven't given up--rather we are taking a minute to breathe.  Going in circles can be quite tiring on our bodies, our minds and spirits.  When we take the time to "just be," we feel refreshed and ready to meet the next challenge.

Yes, I go in circles.  Like the Lady Bugs, I hope someone will notice and open the container and let me fly free!