When the Door Closes Quietly

But you take a crowbar…
reopen it…
and run fast before it closes again.

I did that in 2024.

But unfortunately, I slipped, fell, and split my pelvis. Yes, I pulled out the complete left side.

So… one helicopter ride, one emergency surgery, four months in a wheelchair, eight months using a walker, and one cane later, I realized something:

When God closes a door, don’t pry it open.

Instead… wait for the window to open.

(Me sitting in the wheelchair… looking for the window.)

I started inventorying all the possible life lessons.

And listening to God.

(The listening to God part was missing in the earlier scene: me… crowbar… closed door.)

Now that God had all of my undivided attention, I had questions.

The main question — which was really a two-part question:

What am I supposed to learn?
And where is the “open window”?

Because everything happens according to God’s timing…

not by me checking the clock like I have a full to-do list.

So, do I mention that everything on my events calendar, to-do list, and work schedule… STOPPED?

Completely stopped.

God placed me in what felt like a “noncompete” position.

A position where He could start to grow me for my next season…

and stop me from going off my path.

Let’s back up a step or two.

God placed some amazing creative gifts in me.

And I appreciate the gift.
I love the gift.

But I was headed over there to use them.

“Over there” meaning:

craft shows
themed craft shows
holiday craft shows
any craft show

I was pulling up with my latest creations.

But during this pause…
this forced stillness…
this time of waiting…

I began learning lessons while looking for “the window.”

The lessons I learned while waiting for the window:

Lesson 1
Everything is not for you or a part of your bloom.

Lesson 2
Don’t get so busy that you cannot hear flower petals moving.

Lesson 3
Take time to sit in the Garden.

Lesson 4
Discern which flowers to plant in the Garden.

Lesson 5
Remember… all flowers create a beautiful bouquet.

Lesson 6
Stop tracking everyone else’s Garden.

Lesson 7
Focus on which flowers are growing in your Garden.

In a Garden… most of the work is happening beneath the soil…

before you ever see beauty.

Before I could start learning to walk again,
I had to do core work.

Foundation work.

Balance work.

I had to strengthen what would support me…

before movement could return.

Before confidence could return.

Before normalcy could return.

My newly repaired pelvis needed a strong foundation.

And so did I.

What are you doing to strengthen your foundation…

while you are waiting for your window to open?