As we read the book of Job, we see a man with great integrity who has everything taken from him by Satan. In Job 1, God gives Satan permission to test Job with the caveat: “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically” (1:12). We then hear Job and his friends talking about the adversity he is all of a sudden experiencing in life.

Finally, in Job 38, the Lord challenges Job about his complaining. In Job 38:24, the Lord asks “Where is the path to the origin of light? Where is the home of the east wind?” These are very big questions. I certainly don’t know the answer. God asks these questions to basically say that us humans on Earth are not able to comprehend the extent of God’s power. God created everything. We can’t answer all of those questions.

I may not know where the home of the east wind is located, but I do know that the sun rises in the east and signifies the start of a new day. Each day is a new opportunity to try to live life the best that we can. To this end, I ask, “what gives your life meaning?”

We may not know where the home of the east wind lies, but usually when the wind blows, that signifies change. What is the meaning of your life and what needs to change?

These are very big questions and they can get really intense.

I’ve had many changes in my life recently. Use whichever euphemism you want – a new day, the winds of change blowing … what I have come to realize is that my entire life has changed in a drastic way over the past three years. I have experienced at least 8 of the 10 major lifetime stressors during that time. I have also been grieving at least four different extremely significant loses.

A light bulb recently went off in my head. When life feels really overwhelming and there is a lot going on, the best people are able to overcome and plow through by slowing it down.

Simplify the situation and it is easier to deal with.

In Job, we read 42 chapters of trials, tribulations and complaining. Then, the entire situation is simplified, solved and ended with one statement. “I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” – Job 42:6.

Sometimes we have to just sit down and simplify life to deal with it.

I have been on this journey to simplify my life and it wasn’t helping. It wasn’t hurting either. Simplifying my life allowed me to face my trials these past few years without losing my mind. That’s a positive. However, it did not help to give me a direction for improvement.

When I read Job 42:6 about sitting in dust and ashes to show my repentance, I think that it is all about getting back to basics. How can I be the best me I can be? How can you be the best you that you can be? You can sit there and complain and wallow about adversity, or you can sit quietly and come to a peaceful conclusion.

I realized that I have been drifting since I finished school in 2015. I spent 20 years as a college student and now that I am done, I have no direction in my life. I have no passion. I have also been in a period of grief, as I have experienced at least one major loss in my life each year for the past four years.

It’s time to get back to basics. I need to focus on my health, running and nutrition. I need to have goals. My half marathon this fall is a good goal. I need more goals for when my race is over.

For the first time, I think I’m done grieving, so hopefully I won’t have any more losses any time soon. I kind of get what Job was lamenting. I have lost a lot these past few years too.

The east wind comes to remind us to be the best we can be. What gives your life meaning? How can you set new goals and move from a place of brokenness to a place of repentance and peace?

I have no idea how to redirect my life now that I am no longer a student. I need a new goal other than “survive.” I am going to start with focusing on my health, running and nutrition, but I know I need something bigger than that.

Maybe in the silence, something will come.