I cling to what wisdom urges me to release, and by clinging make myself miserable. When I nurse anger or self-justification or resentment or defensiveness, I'm never doing a noble or grand thing–I'm always doing a dumb and unnecessary thing, defending that which I could be discarding.

"I'll fight for this!" I cry, self-righteousness blinding me to freedom.

Then, in a moment of clarity (grace? mercy?), I step away from myself and take a closer, dispassionate look. Well, whadaya know, it's not precious at all! In fact, it's burdensome, way past its expiration date. I've been hoarding the harmful, clutching the corrosive. I look for the nearest dumpster, toss it in, breathe (for the first time in a while) the sweet, fresh air of Eden.

Let go, again. Surrender.

Aahhhh…

Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.