It is well…I grew up hearing this statement, singing all the songs, saying the verses, but until a few years ago, the depth and truth of the meaning in this statement eluded me. Now, with the Covid-19/corona craziness, this statement keeps coming back to mind.
As a child, I thought “it is well” meant we were problem-free, had no worries or concerns and everything would go as we wished or prayed. I soon learned that we (as a family, people group and society) were weighed down with troubles and at times, pressured on all sides. The community I was raised in (maybe similar to yours) ignored issues and tried to quickly squash anything different or difficult. My questions were often returned with questions that were typically condemning or shaming…intended to silence. In my twenties, I began a journey of studying more as well as talking with and learning from people of varied backgrounds. It is well began taking on a personal meaning.
It is well…maybe mentally, we cain’t see what’s up or down…maybe physically, we takin’ meds for depression and diabetes, maybe emotionally, we been cryin’ and screamin’ for weeks now…maybe in marriage, the last meaningful conversation was…do we even know when? …maybe with family it’s lookin’ like LAWD only knows coz at times, we’ve treated family like shit and we’ve also been treated like shit – ooh they smell, flush quickly and use extra wipes…maybe in friendships, we ain’t takin’ time to truly hear each other, especially when it’s inconvenient, awkward or we disagree…maybe at work, well, we ain’t even got time to get into that level of toxic right now, but it. is. well.
It is well isn’t that I have everything (or any.thing) together. It is well doesn’t translate to it’s all going my way. It is well doesn’t suggest that I put a mask on, doesn’t support fake it till I make it, doesn’t say I put my “game face” on…it is well simply is, because my comfort is not in knowing what will happen (especially since corona livin’ among us now). It is well is not money in the bank, sickness removed, a vehicle, a job promised, a promotion granted, a “happy” marriage, a baby (or babies) and not everything going “as planned”. It is well because I have welcomed a Peace that surpasses understanding, Peace that walks me through the pain as I process all that’s come my way. With corona here, I don’t know what’s in store for us as a town, state, nation and world, so I will take the necessary precautions, but I have chosen Peace and all is well with my soul. It is well is a deep knowing in my core and regardless of what occurs externally…it is well with my soul. It is well within me. I am well and at Peace.
Each of us are unique, so what best speaks to our hearts…what helps to remind us that we can choose to be well in our soul may vary. A few of the things that help me to remember and come back to embracing it.is.well are: being still, journaling, meditating (on verses and affirmations), singing, taking full/deep/focused breaths, sitting with/holding/slowly sipping a cup of hot tea, praying, cradling (and singing to) my spoiled Manx (cat).
Common Day Hero: Taking in a teen, who was from a different culture but in need of a home, losing a business after decades of investing so much of yourself, losing savings and retirement, caring for an ailing parent, grieving the loss of said parent, a house fire (where almost everything was lost), caring for a spouse after a terrible accident, cancer, working with little (but always generous) and experiencing a number of other difficulties/losses…still, you modeled and continue to model it is well with my soul. You’re real in sharing the painful and the Peace through the pain. I dedicate this post to you, Jada, my vanilla mom. Your grandkids and son-in-law joined me in voting for you, without knowing that I’d voted for you! That speaks volumes…shows just how much you model it.is.well!
