Most of us know whether our resolutions appear to be reality or wishful thinking and I’m sure you’ve heard the definition of insanity often attributed to Albert Einstein, “The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”
As I was walking and listening to music the other day, I was struck by some powerful words written and sung by Ashley Cleveland. She references the desire we all have to loose the chains of strongholds in our lives. Destructive dependencies that can threaten our very existence or at the very least hamper our ability to live joyfully.
BROKEN PLACES by Ashley Cleveland
“On the killing floor pieces still remain of the fight before, of the old refrain,
And after all I’ve learned, well, I’ll be here again,
To get to someplace real takes a long, slow crawl,
Some get far afield, some don’t try at all,
But if you do the same things you’ll get the same results.
Chained to the past, chained to the fear,
Chains on the floor, broken for years,
Freedom is calling me and my heart races,
I feel it in the broken places.
Every diver knows there’s a lot at stake, but to the depths he goes as the water breaks,
And for every shipwreck, well, there’s a pearl he takes.
Chained to the past, chained to the fear,
Chains on the floor, broken for years,
Freedom is calling me and my heart races,
I feel it in the broken places.
Time may fly, but I…I’m not too old,
And I…I’m not too high and I’m not too cold,
Well, these golden threads that I nearly sold for the nice warm bed and no place to go.
Chained to the past, chained to the fear,
Chains on the floor, broken for years,
Freedom is calling me and my heart races,
I feel it in the broken places,
Chained to the past, chained to the fear,
Chains on the floor, broken for years,
Freedom calls me and my heart races,
I feel it in the broken places.”
Where are you in your journey toward freedom?
If you’re needing a little extra help and a fresh perspective on how to get there may I suggest an easy to read book full of practical wisdom?
Boundaries – When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
The concepts presented are ones I’ve applied in my own life. There’s nothing more liberating than looking victoriously at broken chains.