Begin Again

​“What do we do when we feel stuck, restless, cornered in our own lives? We can shut down. Or we can begin again.” – Lenna Tankersley
 
This book has been nothing but a healer in my life. Leena Tankersley wrote this book on “The Brave Practice of Releasing Hurt & Receiving Rest” and I would say it is a must read for a few reasons.
 
So I am in my early twenties, but have a full time job from 9-5:30 and then I am also a full time graduate student online through seminary. I love to read these kinds of books, but between work and school, it is so difficult to find time to sit down and read. Thank Leena, because these chapters are only like 2-3 pages long, so even though I had a rough and long day, I can sit in bed with this book and take just 15 minutes to read through one chapter. 
 
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”– Matthew 11:28-30
 
Another reason this text has impacted my life is that there is a lost art of releasing hurt in this day and age. So many people would rather cling to the pain and the disappointment and the tears, when that is not how God intended for our lives to be. Through our trials we are supposed to be rejoicing, and that only comes with releasing the hurt and embracing the grace God gives us on a daily basis, heck an hourly basis. 
 
I am a manager at my job, and I work at a shipping store. It is amazing to see and hear all the life stories that these people open up about, just when you ask them how fast they want their package to its destination. I knew that there were people in this town that were hurting, but I don’t think I understood the full intensity of that statement until I started working here. If only people would find that releasing the hurt and grabbing hold of God’s grace for them would turn their life from a downward spiral to a more than fulfilling lifestyle. 
 
“Breathe and begin again.” – Leena Tankersley
 
I don’t know about you, but just when I read that statement, I just take a deep breath and feel an indescribable peace start to come over me. I’m not sure if that is because I have been following Leena on her journey and learning from her, or if it is because I have created such a freedom filled relationship with Christ. 
 
Whichever the reason is, I hope that you too would grab this book from the shelves and start “The Brave Practice of Releasing Hurt and Receiving Rest.” That is my prayer for you, every day. 
 
“Always we begin again.”– St. Benedict

Written by: Jesse Burnett