Tuesday, April 23, 2013

How to Find Happiness A-Z: T

We've all played it, right?


You know that feeling of free fall, as your gut clenches, your insides quiver, and your nerves scream, "What are you doing, you idiot!?"


Trust.


Who would you trust to catch you? Your best friend? Your neighbor? A parent? A spouse?

These are the people in your inner circle. But would you trust a stranger to catch you?

Some of us have a relationship with deity. Some of us trust in a higher power, because as much as our friends, neighbors and even family love us, they are imperfect and will inevitably fail or be unable to catch us at some point. There's only one source of constancy, and true happiness comes knowing there's someone out there who loves and watches over us--someone who's ready to help--often even before we're humble enough to ask for it. I suppose the point is, in order to be rescued, we must have a relationship of trust with that source of power and love. We have to believe we will be caught, and accordingly, be willing to fall.

Picture courtesy of Ali
My husband and I have done some pretty crazy things in this life: parted ways for 2 years while madly in love (for a service mission), started a family young (yes, intentionally *gasp*), decided to home school (*pointing* I see those bobbing heads!), wrote a musical... But by far, the craziest thing we've ever done was move to New York City.

In part, it was because of the musical. In part, it was what we felt we needed to do. So, seven months pregnant with #3, we packed up a car and my hubby drove cross country while I searched online job listings. Insane? Yup.

After staying with his grandparents in New Jersey for two weeks (the exact amount of time allowed by their housing community), my husband miraculously found a job in NYC. It was in an industry he'd been inspired to study for the last 3 years, despite the unfavorable circumstances around his studies. Not only that, the expected job searching window was a minimum of 3 months in the city, and the number of openings for that specialty? They were very limited. --And really, after having lived there, I'm in awe at how the timetable played out. By all logic, it shouldn't have. He had only one day to go house searching before starting his new job, and again, a search that typically takes weeks, came together in a single day. His brother decided at the same time he was going to return to school at Columbia University, and we were suddenly able to share a moving truck. We ended up having the exact amount of money needed to move, while our funds should not have been sufficient.

Coincidence? Perhaps. But I've only told you half the story. There's no doubt in my mind a greater force was out there, paving our path and making the impossible possible. I trust that power, because of the experiences I've had, because it's the ultimate source of peace, because I'd be lost without it.

Who do you trust? 

21 comments:

  1. We can truly trust anyone, but we have to be selective of what we trust them with. For instance, I trust my daughter to have really great intentions, but I can't always trust her to follow through. I trust my husband with just about anything (I can't think of an instance in which I would not) but I also know him very well. I also trust God to do what He says He will--or rather what He says he HAS done.

    Trust is a great T word!
    tm

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    1. It's true. You have to be careful about the amount of trust we allot out to people, children especially. (Says the home schooling mother.)

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  2. I trust that power, but trust with friends? I've have some issues with some of them. I have to be more careful. Thanks got sharing your story (:

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    1. Friends can be tricky, it's true. I was blessed with some of the best. (Including my wonderful hubby.)

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  3. I don't believe in coincidence. I trust that power, too. Completely. And I agree totally with Ornery up there - we can trust everyone with some things, but not everything to everyone. It's a great point.

    But yes, yes, yes, there is One whom we can trust for everything for always.

    new follower!

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  4. Wow, someone was watching you ;)It seems NYC was meant to be. What an amazing story!

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    1. It definitely was meant to be--despite my very LOUD protests. We grew immensely from the experience.

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  5. I trust my instincts. Even though it says insane things always most of the time they favour me. I believe instincts are a way for someone up there to give out ideas.

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    1. I completely agree. That's why women have "intuition," right?

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  6. This is a wonderful post. Thanks for sharing your experiences and insights.

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    1. Thanks for stopping in, Joy. =) The cheese is on the house, er, uh, blog.

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  7. Thanks for posting this. I am feeling the same way about moving to Germany right now. I know it is where I am supposed to be and though I cannot see how it will all work out, I know it will. I trust in Heavenly Father, that He knows how it will all work and will guide me to the right places.

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    1. That's right. It will work out. Wishing you the best with the move.

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  8. Some aspects of your moving experience sound very familiar. Not the details, of course (it took me 9 months to find a job, with savings dwindling at an alarming rate) but the way some things that had no right coming together actually came together. Some things could have been awkward if they hadn't come together at the right time, but they did, and we always felt it was meant to be.

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    1. It's nice, right? That assurance that everything is coming together as it should?

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  9. I don't trust so much as I have faith in the positive of all will work out somehow, as long as I'm moving forward in that frame of mine.

    Take 25 to Hollister
    Don't be a Hippie

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  10. Trust someone to catch me?? Hmm...I should trust most of my family members. But we're all pranksters, so I'm not sure trusting any of them to catch me would be wise.

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  11. Seriously, getting goosebumps and teary eyed reading these posts. Thank you for the reminders.

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Hit me with your cheese!