November 2, 2005
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The Out of Towners
“My dear, life rarely gives us what we want at the moment we consider appropriate. Adventures do occur, but not punctually.”
Mrs. Moore in
So true, but the word “adventure” sometimes pales in comparison to the reality of the white-knuckled, hair-raising, handbar-gripping, stand up and scream turns and surprises this ride called “life” can sometimes give us. I fully believe that my life is in God’s hands, and that He allows nothing that won’t be able to contribute to my growth in Him. I’ve entrusted those I know and those I love to Him, and He’s always come through. Nonetheless, sometimes I am yet knocked off my feet when, in His timing, God sets out an unexpected “growth opportunity” for me.
No details; it would obfuscate the point. Suffice it to say that someone(s) close to me got a sudden, unexpected, daunting challenge thrust on them (and by relational proximity, in part, on me) this past evening.
Dark Night of the Soul
I confess to being particularly susceptible to worry; especially about those for whom I care. I spent most of last night in prayer to God; for wisdom (for me and all parties concerned in the situation), safety, protection, in short, crying out to Him to take control. In reality I was seeking the comfort and presence of Jesus Himself. As I look back, I was wandering through the alleyways of the night much like the lover-seeker in the Song of Solomon, or the similar writings of St John of the Cross…what my heart of hearts had come to was the need for one thing: the comfort The Beloved alone can bring.
The Lesson
This, I believe, is what God is about in the training He brings. We need to come to the end of ourselves to come to the beginning of Him. The situation I confronted was one I couldn’t control. The decisions to be made were to be made by others. I hadn’t the financial means to help significantly. The constraints of my work are such that I have been put exactly in a position to be unavailable to help with hands, feet, or personal effort. God was left to me as my only refuge. The result of my “all-nighter” with God has been (at least) threefold:
I have been propelled into a close, ongoing, tender DIalogue (ie, two-way) with Him,seeking His wisdom, but more importantly, seeking HIM.
I am at a level of peace not native to me, trusting Him with all concerned.
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I am, as part of the dialogue, continuing to pray for those involved, with the knowledge that God ” works all things for (the) good to those who love Him..”
(and am encouraging those involved who will listen, to seek His guidance as well)
The Out of Towners
The reference is to a movie in which the principle characters go from calamity to calamity. Even after its resolution, the story trails off into the sunset as the beleaguered protagonists are being hijacked, and the key line of “Oh, my God” is heard. It certainly had no religious context in the movie, but …How Appropriate.
Final Movie Reference
I think the progression those who are following God go through in learning how to approach handling life’s unexpected adventures is something like that of Steve Martin’s character in the movie, “Parenthood“. He’s a loving, neurotic father who “knots up” badly at life’s imperfections, worried that he’ll fail his children, or that they’ll fail in life
He completely misses the point when “Grandma” says, metaphorically, that she isn’t one of the people who prefer a boring carousel, rather, she prefers the tilts and turns of (life’s) roller coaster. In a wonderfully directed scene, as his son is single-handedly destroying a school play, props, set , and all, you can hear the “click-click-click” of roller coaster cars climbing. He grips the back of the chair in front, his face tenses, and then, as the sound of kids squealing on a coaster plays in the background, and the camera tilts, HE LETS GO…and begins to laugh.
We can care, have concern, compassion and love for others and trust God steadfastly. When an adventure is afoot in this broken world, we can trust God, let go, and ensconced firmly in Him, courageously face the twists and turns in the journey.
Leaning on Him
Jim
Comments (8)
I’m feeling in the same place, where all I can pray is….Abba….. It seems to be going around like a bad case of flu. Fortunately, at such times, that is all that is needed. He who hears our hearts responds to words unspoken.
Thank you so much for your post. I so needed to not only hear your uplifting words, but to know that others are sharing similar “adventures.”
Wow, great word!!!
I really liked your poem in the last post!! Now I see where I get my enjoyment of poetry from! I love you daddy! muah ~noelle~
Ah, the parenting roller coaster. Good stuff. Great post, Jim!
Hey buddy, keep your eyes on Jesus, and remember Matt 6:25. And try not to worry, it is SO freeing. God Bless. Sammy
ok, you quoted multiple movies, but I didn’t see “The Princess Bride.”
Buttercup: You mock my pain!
Man in Black: Life is pain, highness, anyone who tells you differently is selling something.
Praise God Jim! What a wonderful post. I will keep you and those involved in prayer. Although I do not know who, God knows who I mean.
I love That movie Parenthood! I can so totally relate to what you are saying cause I have been there myself.
I lost my oldest son to a blood disorder that could not be cured but God gave him back to us. The doctors said there was no hope. God said different! He died more then once. The last time (5th time) my son told me just before he died that he was going to die but Jesus would send him back because it wasn’t time for him to come home yet. That is exactly what happened! The next morning the doctors came to me confused because my son had taken a turn for the better and would get better! They could find no medical reason for the turn for the good. I looked at the doctors and said “”It is because of God!” Someday I will tell the whole miracle story if you would like to know. Just saying God’s ways are not man’s ways and to keep faith because HE IS IN CONTROL.
God Bless you and yours Jim.
Love in Christ,
Nikki
Everyone…thanks for your kind comments…everything in the “situation” mentioned worked out very well, and God was more than faithful in His answers to prayer….as He always is.
Bless Him
Jim