Sink or Swim? The miracle of Passover in my everyday

That's a picture Jillian took at sunrise a few weeks ago. The adventure of this life, the mystery, the magic and the toil is all here in this picture. We had hiked up early in the morning to capture something. And I feel like what we were capturing was how long and steep the path is, and that freedom is not somewhere at the top - it's in every arduous step of the way.

Jillian was worried about the light for the photos and we were later that we had hoped. She was worried we would miss the soft white light and it would get brighter and yellower and harsher. She kept saying "ugh - there's our moment!" as if it were slipping away with every millimeter the sun rose higher into the horizon. Then it was starting to peep up and we dropped everything right where we were and quickly arranged my outfit. It wasn't the ideal spot we had planned for and my hair wasn't perfect, I was dripping sweat and freezing cold all at once. But we took advantage of everything we had in that moment. Our friendship, the fresh crisp air, the body heat, the sun slipping up into the day - and we went for it. Then we left it all strewn in that spot and made a mad dash to find another spot higher up the hill before the sun hit up there. Running, sprinting, toward the sunrise - and dancing and spinning and caring SO much that I look like it was totally carefree!

Tonight I will celebrate Passover. And I am reflecting on the story of the Exodus. The Jews' mad dash out of Egypt - out of bondage - to liberation. They also dropped everything as their moment came near. They took everything they could carry in their hands, didn't wait for their bread to rise. They took their families and their spiritual fervor - and ran. When they reached the Red Sea, they simply continued forward. The water did not part until they had gotten in waist deep. (Or maybe even neck deep - Jews are short!) They were willing to walk to their death by drowning rather that continue to be slaves in Egypt.

We are all living and re-living this story in our lives every day. The Israelites' were led by Moses. I am being led by my own inner calling with the same radical passion and fearless determination. Let's take each other's hands and step into the Red Sea. Maybe we will drown in the overwhelm, the intensity of this modern pace of living. But maybe our path will be shown by enormous walls of water lifting up from under foot. Maybe we will be protected by a force of nature. Miracles do happen.

I have so much stirring inside, so much I want to be able to do with this short life on earth. Sometimes the water washes over me, sometimes it beats me down, sometimes it lifts me up, and sometimes it parts just as I take a step into it.

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