By Donny Wright PhD
This morning I am mindful of a place that has existed for a long time yet it seems that I have only now discovered it. Its home is in a space between what is right and what is wrong; between what was and what is to come. It does not surpass understanding but rather is understanding. It is a place where troubles are forgotten, anxiety is relieved, depression is released and ego is defeated. I call this space "What it is".
Many have discovered this space before me. Rich and poor, strong and feeble, wise and ignorant. Those who have struggled with the obsession of perfectionism know it. Those who have surrendered to the concept that they can not control that which is uncontrollable, that in which they have no control over, know it.
It is a place of rest, of realization, of rejuvenation and regeneration. It is a place where battles are won by surrender. A place that God has sanctified as His Rest.
It is the space that my son used to say, "It is what it is."
Chances are you have heard that phrase. But I never grasped where this place is until now.
The Persian poet Rumi once wrote, "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase each other doesn't make any sense." Rumi
My interpretation of Rumi's quote is that the place "what it is" is a space of the inner man in which there is acceptance. It transcends being right or being wrong and harbors a field of rest for the weary soul. When we can not make things work out the way we want them to work out, rather than develop stress, worry and anxiety, we go to "what it is" and let go. It is "what it is". Not a place of defeat, but rather a place of surrender of the ego.
If I try to control something I have no control of, I am only setting myself up for failure. So when I surrender to the space of "what it is" I have accomplished the success of acceptance. I no longer have to worry, manipulate, become angry, stress out or become depressed. I simply have to relax in the space of "what it is " that God has provided for me.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
The peace of God which transcends all understanding is the "what it is". It is the space that is neither right or wrong, it is what it is. God is the I AM, this space is the It Is made from God. It is the space where Jesus will take you when He says, "Come to me you who are weak and weary and I will give you rest." It is the place where you feel God's love and His arms wrapped around you protecting your from harm and letting you know everything will be ok.
So my prayer today is of gratitude of the "what it is". A shelter from the storms of life. A mountain to stand upon when the floods of life rage. A field of green pastures for me to lie down in when I become overwhelmed. A place where nothing makes sense until I rest in the transcending peace of God that comprises and fills the "what it is."
Copyright 2014 Donny Wright PhD
Donny is a writer, businessman, husband and father. His writings reflect a sense of help and hope for the struggling seekers.
You may purchase his book, "Thirty Days To Ponder: Spiritual Inspirations For A Positive Life" fromwww.createspace.com or email him at duanewright@ymail.com
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