I’ve got a quick question for you, that may take you a moment to answer.
Have you taken inventory on yourself lately?
Taking inventory is essential in any capacity. It’s important as a business owner to know what you’ve got in stock. In our relationships, it’s healthy to know where all parties stand. In our day to day, we subconsciously take inventory of the refrigerator, kids schedules, and various energy containers that we busy our lives with.
Eventually, we get to a point where the inventory list is in shambles and we have no idea what we need or what we are carrying.
Society sets the example that we should have it all together and vulnerability is a weak state. Yet, society doesn’t set a positive example on how to keep an organized inventory, now do they?
If you have it all together, this article may not be for you. If you’ve ever experienced that you are barely hanging on some days, keep going. I had a helpful holy moment recently that I’m excited to share with you.
See, before Brene Brown was dishing out wisdom on vulnerability and framing it as a courageous way to lead, Jesus was setting this example back in the BCE. Don’t get me wrong, I’d be the first to buy tickets if BB came to Pensacola. She is one of the top 5 people on the “If you could meet anyone list” that you’d find me fan-girling.
During Jesus’s ministry, scriptures share that he would meet people in their most vulnerable state. No matter what the circumstance would be, most all interactions would start with taking some kind of inventory.
Unlike society, Jesus sets a positive example on how to dig into what’s going on in our souls. His questions go deep past the surface level and encourage you to truly think on what you have and what you need.
- Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27)
- Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3)
- Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? (Matthew 9:4)
- Do you understand what I have done for you? (John 13:12)
- Do you want to get well? (John 5:6)
This is the kind of qualitative research that Brene Brown is doing today, and we are uncovering that the human condition hasn’t changed over the centuries.
When we strip away status, profession, and get down to the “me” that lives inside each of us, I don’t think we are very good at naturally taking inventory.
I want to leave you with a challenge today. Take a small sticky note and write these 3 questions down:
- How is my heart?
- How is my soul?
- What can I give to God that is taking control?
This sticky note size inventory list may seem small, though it is mighty in the impact it will have overall.
My hope is that you dig in beneath the “I’m good” or “I’m fine” that comes as a routine answer when someone asks you “How are you doing?”. My prayer is that you feel the warmth of Jesus’s accessible presence to open up about your soul’s inventory.
He wants the good, the bad, and the ugly. He wants your most vulnerable moments, so that together, you can take action towards the parts of you that need eternal healing.
Peace be with you, and may you see many fruits from your sticky note inventory.
Makenna Curtis
Local Pulse Community Writer
Holy Moments
