Learn to be courageously YOU
Scott is guiding our community through a series of Bible stories that he believes are often misunderstood, because he is diplomatic and is prone to understatement. I, when I substitute in, feel a certain freedom to say what I think (as if this were a new concept). I think we have learned a lot of the WRONG stuff. Sometimes it even makes me mad.
I, we, all of us - misinterpret what other people are telling us - and it can have negative consequences, making our life more constricted than necessary. For example, one of my favorite poets Mary Oliver wrote "The Summer Day" and asked the following question: "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" I was so captivated by the possibilities, the vision, the challenge of the question. I ran with it.
What COULD I do with my one wild and precious life? Surely, something BIG and AMAZING! Right? Isn't that the answer? Private detective. Author. Fitness fanatic. Secret Shopper. Barista. Bookstore owner. Some of these dreams even came true.
Busy also reading the scriptures, I stumble across Ezra 7:28 ESV, "I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me." Check. Got it.
One wild and precious life.
Be courageous.
Another day I read Psalm 56:3 NLT, "But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you." Ok. More good information. Geez, there is so much to keep track of it's almost as overwhelming as following all of Oprah's suggestions for a perfect life.
One wild and precious life.
Be courageous.
Trust God.
All this I read through the lens of my own personality, culture, even my job description. I draw conclusions and act on them. I overcome my skepticism. I fight the good fight with myself - where many competing messages vie for my attention.
One wild and precious life. (So don't waste it you ungrateful little girl. You are lucky to be alive, so you better be dutiful and try to make it up to Jesus who you practically killed single-handedly with your sins.)
Be courageous. (Because that anxiety you feel is a sin [again, killing Jesus] and you should be ashamed for your fears because you KNOW God's got you and not going to let anything bad happen to you which means I pretty much have to ignore huge portions of my life where people I love die by suicide, overdose, and cancer.)
Trust God. (Just do it. Don't be difficult; don't ask too many questions; be a good girl.)
Yes, it is true, my mind is a beehive.
But listen up. If you actually read Mary Oliver's entire poem, you know how she answers her own question? She says, I kid you not, a summer day is about doing nothing. Like lilies of the valley that bloom without my intervention, courage or trust - just rest. Do nothing. Enjoy your day. Summer has begun. I pray for you times of rest, a break from false assumptions and jumped to conclusions. God's got this - whether or not we trust perfectly, understand clearly, and obey continuously. Amen
