What it is
I seem to find myself saying “It is what it is” quite a bit lately. I think it’s becoming an alternative to the younger crowd’s word “whatever,” but not with quite so much indifference. But what is, what it is?
Pills were supposed to be delivered yesterday, but they didn’t show up. Today, the pharmacy called to say they went back and forth with insurance, and now it’s not in stock and will be a few days. It is what it is. I threw a perfect strike ball, and it ended up a split. It is what it is. The hammers pounding at the construction site woke me up. It is what it is. Does it make me upset, nervous, or worried?
I wonder whether I am giving up or giving in to something with that attitude. Is there a position of resignation, and is it negative or positive? Tomorrow at the church, we begin the ten-day countdown to Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to Mary and the Disciples. After Jesus ascended into heaven, they were afraid and locked themselves away, silent and praying. Were they afraid they would lose all they had learned because Jesus left them? What would this promised Advocate entail?
They could have said, “It is what it is. We’ll see. We’ll get by.” They would likely have comforted each other. When someone we love dies or gets sick, we often don’t know how to offer comfort. We just want to take their pain away. But it’s theirs, and unfortunately, they have to go through it. They have to wait for healing. Comfort comes from knowing their loved one’s pain is gone, not from missing them. It is what it is. Life. Death. And the in-between.
The world keeps spinning faster and faster these days. I’m going to spin off at some point and say goodbye. We all are. How are you preparing for this epic event? Jesus said he was preparing a place for us and would take us there. In the meantime, our to-do lists keep growing. We are tired. We have to find what’s important and do it.
If we are seeking God in all things, we might get an inkling to set these lists aside. This could be a nudge that something more important, like sharing time with others, doing what you enjoy, and praying more, is where He is leading you. The Spirit wants you to follow Him, but only if you are interested. Are you? Think about it. Where is He on the list? God could be calling you to rest. To accept. To lie down in a green pasture. To climb mountains and scale high walls. To hold and be held. To be where you need to be. To be who you are meant to be.
I want to say “It is what it is” without getting upset, nervous, or worried. Be it done to me, whatever may come.
Mary said that too. Look what happened there. She brought us the Savior of the world.
It is what it is. And with God, it is all possible. Come Holy Spirit.