Monday, February 28, 2011

Shifting

I have been really struggling with some issues of late. (I am sure that surprises no one.) Issues that leave me angry and dissatisfied on an almost daily basis, but I am beginning to "get" something in my core. I want to be full of gratitude—not for any of my circumstances, because these are fickle (sometimes good and sometimes awful) --but for the abundant love and grace God lavishes on me. This is unchanging. This *is* something I can be totally sold-out grateful for…and that changes everything.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Chariots of Fire

I just finished watching one of my favorite movies. I always forget it is one of my favorites when someone asks about favorites, but I love all of it. Chariots of Fire makes me smile inside and out almost the entire time I am watching it...such a joyfully satisfying movie. Guess I ought to add it to the list of favorites on my profile, huh?

Monday, February 14, 2011

It Always Does

I had to finish a family tree project for my son last night...my children wanted to help me finish it, but I just kept getting all choked up as I looked through old pictures for us to use. I felt like Todd could have stepped right out of some of the pictures and hung out like we used to. I also knew I was going to have to write August 2, 2009 under his birthdate...I really didn't want to do that. I finally asked them to go on to bed and let me finish it alone...I hate that they absolutely understood...I wish they didn't have to understand such things.
I waffle back and forth between knowing I can do this--I have to do this--and wanting to crumple up in a heap. Thankfully, most days are the kind where I know I can and have to, but I have had a few too many in the last month of the crumple in a heap kind. It will get better. It always does. I fear I am becoming a broken record of ups and downs. I almost feel like someone should slap me and tell me to "get a hold of yourself--get over it and move on"..."you don't have a husband...lots of women lose their husbands"...."your children don't have a father...lots of children never have a good father...," but I know I would punch back if they did...and the fight would feel good for the moment, and I would probably win because I would kick and scream and punch so hard they wouldn't know what hit them...but once my anger was spent, everything would still be the same...and I would have hurt someone else intentionally and that is not me...I would feel worse not better. So I will cry to God, knowing that He can handle my kicking and screaming and not be surprised or hurt by it...that He wants to crawl inside my grief with me is almost more than I can bear...and certainly part of a mystery I can never fully understand. He holds onto me when I lash out (even when I cannot or do not want to hold onto Him). He will hold me until the fight is gone, and I am quiet again in my spirit. It will get better. It always does.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Moonbeams and Sunlight

I think of my daughter as moonbeams—beautiful, shimmery silver light and equally beautiful shadows. I picture my son more like sunlight—bright, shiny light that has a particular energy and transparency. Both are very reflective and intuitive, but each has their own, very distinct, way of relating to the world. Both can be silly, but my son has a special knack for it while my daughter tends to excel in the funny trickster category...both of these qualities we loved about Todd, and I can see their daddy reflected in them. I am so thankful to be their momma.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Nothing Further At This Time

Off and on during the past two or three weeks, I have been very angry with God regarding the brokenness of this world...We didn't ask to be born, but we have inherited this mess, and due to our very human nature we are destined to perpetuate the brokenness...or are we? This excerpt from The Shack (by William P. Young) reminds me there is an alternative to just perpetuating the brokenness. He has redeemed me. He is redeeming me. He will redeem me.


Mackenzie is a father whose young daughter, Missy, was kidnapped and murdered. Mack has the following conversation with another character in a chapter titled "Here Come Da Judge." (God the Father is referred to as "Papa" and appears to Mack as a woman, so God is often referred to as "she." I know it is a little confusing if you haven't read the book.)


"No, I love Papa, whoever she is. She's amazing, but she's not anything like the God I've known." (Mackenzie speaking.)

"Maybe your understanding of God is wrong."

"Maybe. I just don't see how God loved Missy perfectly."

"So the judgment continues?" she said with a sadness in her voice.

That made Mack pause, but only for a moment. "What am I supposed to think? I just don't understand how God could love Missy and let her go through that horror. She was innocent. She didn't do anything to deserve that."

"I know."

Mack continued on, "Did God use her to punish me for what I did to my father? That isn't fair. She didn't deserve this. Nan didn't deserve this." Tears streamed down his face. "I might have, but they didn't."

"Is that who your God is, Mackenzie? It is no wonder you are drowning in your sorrow. Papa isn't like that, Mackenzie. She's not punishing you, or Missy, or Nan. This was not his doing."

"But he didn't stop it."

"No, he didn't. He doesn't stop a lot of things that cause him pain. Your world is severely broken. You demanded your independence, and now you are angry with the one who loved you enough to give it to you. Nothing is as it should be, as Papa desires it to be, as it will be one day. Right now your world is lost in darkness and chaos, and horrible things happen to those that he is especially fond of."

"Then why doesn't he do something about it?"

"He already has…"

"You mean what Jesus did?"

"Haven't you seen the wounds on Papa too?"

"I didn't understand them. How could he…"

"For love. He chose the way of the cross where mercy triumphs over justice because of love. Would you instead prefer he'd chosen justice for everyone? Do you want justice, 'Dear Judge'?" and she smiled as she said it.

"No, I don't," he said as he lowered his head. "Not for me, and not for my children." She waited.

"But I still don't understand why Missy had to die."

"She didn't have to, Mackenzie. This was no plan of Papa's. Papa has never needed evil to accomplish his good purposes. It is you humans who have embraced evil, and Papa has responded with goodness. What happened to Missy was the work of evil and no one in your world is immune from it. "

"But it hurts so much. There must be a better way."

"There is. You just can't see it now. Return from your independence, Mackenzie. Give up being his judge and know Papa for who he is. Then you will be able to embrace his love in the midst of your pain, instead of pushing him away with your self-centered perception of how you think the universe should be. Papa has crawled inside of your world to be with you, to be with Missy."