My husband has an irritating way of weaving systems theory into our everyday challenges. One of the most irritating adages he proclaims is, \u201cDuring times of stress\u2026chaos, the character of a system, is revealed.\u201d Personally, I prefer chaos theory\u2019s adage, \u201cThere is order in chaos.\u201d Knowing there is order in chaos comforts me. Being held accountable to how I handle chaos does not. I like the comfort and balance being a person of faith offers during chaos. I do not want to know what is revealed about my character. I just want the chaos to go away.<\/p>\n
The Judeo Christian sacred text speaks about living out of our faith. In everyday choices and actions, the lives of people of faith should bear witness to The Sacred Divine who walks through chaos with the Beloved, providing order, comfort and balance. Like the Judeo Christian text, the sacred texts of other religions speak of making sure our walk and talk are one. Living in the world as a person of faith must include engaging everyday challenges. Our faith must have \u201cflesh on\u201d as we bear witness to hope and love, even in the midst of chaos.<\/p>\n
As a member of a university community, stress (chaos) is a given. How we navigate stress as people of faith matters. We cannot simply hope it will go away; it is our normal. Tom Welling (It seems appropriate to quote Smallville\u2019s Superman <\/em>during times of stress.) offers these words:<\/p>\n I have so much chaos in my life, it’s become normal. You become used to it. You have to just relax, calm down, take a deep breath and try to see how you can make things work rather than complain about how they’re wrong.<\/em><\/p>\n Relax. Calm Down. Take a deep breath. Make a plan and then work the plan. If you find yourself unable to relax, calm down and breathe\u2026 or, if making a plan and working it seems overwhelming, please make an appointment with one of our professionals in the Counseling Center (first floor of Hundley Hall) or the Spiritual Life Center (500 Brevard Street). Stress may be the norm on a university campus, but as a member of a university community, you have access to resources to help you navigate the challenges.<\/p>\n Know that we are all in this together (It also seems appropriate to quote High School Musical<\/em> during times of stress) as we seek order and balance, and navigate the chaos\u2026 our normal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My husband has an irritating way of weaving systems theory into our everyday challenges. One of the most irritating adages he proclaims is, \u201cDuring times of stress\u2026chaos, the character of a system, is revealed.\u201d Personally, I prefer chaos theory\u2019s adage, …<\/p>\n