Hey everyone,
I hope you enjoyed the retreat and have had a chance to rest up. I mentioned this blog as a place to continue our conversations and share thoughts with each other. This first post was written by Shannon Kuzmich who participated in the retreat. Feel free to make comments and share your own thoughts. Also, there is some way to get a notice in your inbox whenever the blog changes – so look around the sight and check the box if you so desire.
A couple of the songs we sang at church today were musical reminders of the grand vision of God as the reigning King over all! It was another reminder of our glorious calling to trust Jesus in everything and live, really live, under His reign.
Mike
From Shannon …
Sorry…there is no silver bullet. As Edge joked to an overly-serious journalist in a 1990 music video, “it’s a journey…a musical journey.” Well, maybe not the music so much (don’t get me wrong, I’m a big Manuel fan). As Mike shared about his Colorado to California road trip, the journey can be fraught with threats and real dangers, tensions, flaring tempers, frustration, questioning, and repeated re-commitments to realizing the vision…or just getting through the next snow flurry.
But isn’t it, after all, quite grand? This journey we are “all-in” on will certainly take each of us up along our own sacred and secret road trip. Sacred? Ah…we must remember it is a journey toward more fully realizing the essence of God’s dream of us…who He has desired us to be from the beginning. That is absolutely sacred. And the trip is secret, even from us at times. The Spirit works deeply, secretly, mercifully, and gently over time to transform us from the inside out…nudging a little, pressing a bit, and speaking loudly once in a great while just to let us know He is at work.
For a performance junky perfectionist such as myself, the lack of concrete how-to steps exasperates me. But that’s the control thing again. The Pharisees were such as these. The root of it is pride that casts the gaze on self, seeking to celebrate the wonders of who we are in our self-directed acts of piety, compliance, obedience, rule-following, and self-flagellation. Gross.
But, it doesn’t matter at all, does it? I have this amazing God who calls to me to know Him, to seek Him, to trust Him, to love Him, and to allow Him to indwell me and use me for His purposes. Christ took care of my debt. I still have the sin, but there are no more penalties for it, only the freedom to dig into the abundance He promised me. As my husband said tonight, “It’s overwhelming, but it’s what we’re called to do.”
And again, it is quite grand, isn’t it? Life is getting really tough (maybe it’s just me), but circumstances don’t define me and they certainly don’t limit what God can do through my pathetic little life. The possibility of another transforming God-planned adventure fuels me with hope despite my sins, my secrets, my regrets, and my fears about change. I have been to the dark side enough times to know there is nothing good for me there. I have had all that I want that this world offers, and it leaves my stomach growling for some real food. I am Eustace as the dragon, nearing the end of myself (again) and watching the horizon line with fear to see His silhouette emerging against the skyline of my hearts vision.
If the tough times are part of the journey, then find encouragement in the fact that it’s not all for naught. Dick Lane shared on Friday night that after 50 years of following Christ, he carries regrets that he has not been kind enough, patient enough, available enough. I challenge him to rethink his assessment and revel in the joy that he exudes a spirit of meekness to those of us who would emulate him. He is not aware, obviously. Humility can be a cruel blessing in that the person of humility cannot enjoy the richness of their state simply because they are humble. Dick, revel man, revel!
Commenting on my own blog post is a little weird, but I omitted the most important point.
Col 3:1-4: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Our life is now hidden with Christ in God and I think we’re supposed to find out about it by directing our gaze away from ourselves and up to Christ.
First, I love the way my wife thinks and writes. Second,
getting the vision away from the routine and focused on God and
what life can be as designed by Him is what I am focused on now.
That vision must be compelling, and I think it must be clear. I am
too easily swayed by circumstances and allow what is happening
around me to direct my vision. Col 3 and Rom 12 (among others)
provide direction and upward gazing. I look forward with great
anticipation!
After hearing Frank Laubach’s name mentioned both in Dallas Willard’s writing and at our recent huddle, I have been reading some excerpts from his journals. It has been most interesting to follow along in his spiritual formation attempt to keep God in his thoughts throughout the whole day. What is also fascinating is to see the changes taking place both within himself and even how people are reacting differently to him.
Thank you for this class . It is turning into an enlightening and exciting journey.
Kevin Melton