"Do you want to replace the sensor?" asked Nate. Nate is the guy that checks my car in for needed maintenance. He shoots straight with me, sometimes recommending maintenance, and other times cautioning against something unneeded - or reminding me that I already had it done! 👀

This week, I took my car in for some routine maintenance—an oil change, a tire rotation, and a faulty tire pressure sensor replacement. Nothing major, just the kind of care that keeps my car running smoothly. It’s easy to put off these little tasks because they don’t seem urgent in the moment. But ignoring them for too long can lead to bigger problems down the road—uneven tire wear, a damaged engine, or a misleading sensor that keeps you from recognizing real issues when they arise.

Our spiritual lives need that same kind of attention. Sometimes we go about our days without realizing we’re running on fumes. We ignore the small warning signs—like a short temper, a restless spirit, or a growing sense of disconnect from God and others. We tell ourselves we’ll deal with it later, but like a neglected tire alignment, those small shifts can pull us further and further off course until we wake up one day feeling completely out of sync.

But here’s the good news: just as routine maintenance keeps a car running well, small, intentional moments can realign our souls. I was reminded of this at my son’s basketball games, watching how every play required constant adjustment—players shifting, repositioning, and adapting. And then at our church game night, I saw the power of simple joy and connection. Something as small as laughter around a table with friends is its own kind of spiritual reset, reminding us that God’s presence isn’t just in the serious moments but also in the ones filled with lighthearted joy.

My wish for you this week, Reader, is to take some time for a little soul maintenance. Is there a practice you’ve been neglecting that once kept you grounded? A conversation you’ve been avoiding that could bring healing? A relationship that needs tending? Maybe it’s something as simple as taking a deep breath and remembering that grace is always available to bring us back into alignment.

Life pulls us in different directions, but we don’t have to move through it out of balance. God is always present, always inviting us back to center. Take the time to check in, recalibrate, and move forward with renewed strength. That's the fiLLLed life.
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Live a fiLLLed life, Melissa ​

P.S. get your copy of Pursuing Uncomfortable: Lean In and Overcome HERE.