People sometimes ask why I’m often barefoot, even in the winter. And while it’s true, I’m not a fan of shoes, there’s something more going on for me. I’m trying to wake myself up a little. Walking through the cold, wet grass each morning as I load the boys up for school, I can FEEL something. Yes, it’s uncomfortable, but it also sends this message to my body that says, "Hey! You're alive!" We humans are so quick to insulate ourselves from discomfort. Too chilly in the house? Crank that heat up to the perfect temp. About to run into someone we feel awkward around? Change course and avoid them. Not feeling the way we want to today? Find a distraction to numb us out. We wonder why it often feels like we’re just going through the motions. We tend to arrange our little lives around our own sense of control and security and we don’t like interruptions that take us out of our comfort zone. When was the last time you just stood in the rain? Or had a hard conversation? Or chose a different route that may take longer? I recommend these little wake up calls. They’re good for the soul, and they prepare us for those times in life when God asks us to live in the tension between brokenness and redemption. We don’t have to have everything resolved to be OK. We can survive the harder feelings. We can, as my huysband says, "get comfortable with the uncomfortable." This is one way we develop strength and resilience, one day at a time.