I have been going through some stuff lately.  Some deep, stinky stuff.  I’m tyring to figure our who I am on my own…not in relation to the house in which I grew up, not in relation to the churches I’ve attended, not in relation to my friends, but the essence of Deneen.

That is hard work.  It’s one of those things that you just have to do on your own.  I know I have friends around to support me when I need the support.  I have family who is there to walk me through things.  But there are some journeys that one must initiate and do solo.

This journey had me down last week.  I showed up for life events-work, funerals, dinners, but it was my body that was present and not me.  I wish I had an explanation for my mental and emotional absence, but I don’t.

This morning, on my phone, I received Isaiah 43:2 as my scripture of the day.

² When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

Way back when, I had two friends who wrote a song to this scripture.  That song has been running through my head all day long.  If I knew how to contact the friends who wrote the song, I’d have to thank them.

The lesson I learned is that I’m not doing this journey alone.  No matter where I am, what I’m doing, what state I’m in, I’m not alone.  That knowledge brings me peace that surpasses ALL understanding.