oprah told a story once about a time when she kept having to see newspaper headlines that were totally trashing her. she was so hurt by the ordeal, wondering why people would print such lies...especially when they didn't even know her. she called her mentor at the time, who was maya angelou, and wisely, oprah was encouraged to see that she "was not in that". everything that was the genuine oprah...the passion, giftings, the heart...did not need to be rocked by or defined by such pettiness and assault. it was a beckoning to let go, to walk away...and keep on keeping on.
as it turns out, this may actually end up being one of the most difficult battles of my life... through many ordeals, it has been very difficult to "let go and let god"...to actually let it be about god even at my expense.
whoooo...not...remotely...easy.
if i may be a little strange for a moment...god did a profound thing when he created mankind. he gave us an immense amount of authority. i don't think we even begin to understand how profound that was, but sadly, through the fall, we handed that authority over to satan. the consequences of that (disease, death, a broken creation) have been horrendous. the awesome thing is that god
made a way for that authority to be rested back on us...if we so choose. but it doesn't stop there...no, no, no...because the most abundant life actually involves us presenting that authority back to god...chosing to live under his hand. and in so doing...humbling ourselves...he raises us from our knees to our feet, standing in his embrace...with backbones of steel, with hands fit for the paradox of service and battle, with hearts being mended...and like a key in lock that's been aching to be opened for all of time... we empty ourselves of ridiculous obstacles, and we open the door to the release of the holy spirit...unshackled. the trinity is unleashed...but so few actually live that way...
...and are rocked by every wave on a stormy sea...
and here's the thing...i'm not saying we shouldn't stand up for ourselves in struggle. sometimes that's definitely called for...it's just that when we make something more about ourselves than it truly is or needs to be, we have the propensity to unleash a whole lot more than the trinity.
*gossip
*slander
*division
*and a whole lot more.
immaturity rules the roost rather than godliness.
so maybe, we should choose other reactions. first, we should step back and ask ourselves what this really is about. i've had to do that regarding my passions and dreams lately. the things/people i love that others don't. sometimes it's lonely in loving and pursuing...but do we have to feel alone? is it even really about that? and if it's taking a stand for something or being attacked for something, can we rise above the defensiveness and make it about the issue at hand?
the cool thing is...stepping back helps us gain a far better perspective of the situation. hopefully, one that takes self off the table. what, after all, if it is spiritual attack? would we attack our brothers in this context? i suspect satan would love us to do that rather than spend time kicking HIM in the head...
after stepping back, we need to ask god what he wants done...or not done. this is the trust zone! he may ask you to lay down your defenses. he may ask you to make it about him and his will. he will certainly ask you to not sin. he will certainly ask you to pray...be with him.
and a minor note about confidants...i have found that it is so great to utilize brothers and sisters in christ to process struggles, to rally prayer support. BUT...may i issue a caution. first, assess the ability of your confidants to NOT take up your offense and NOT gossip! man, i've seen that get way out of hand...adding gasoline to candlelight. but if you have a couple of people who can stand with you...in prayer and personal encouragement...go for it!
and with that, i just want to end with something from 1 Corinthians 1.
10I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I'll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common.
11-12I bring this up because some from Chloe's family brought a most disturbing report to my attention—that you're fighting among yourselves! I'll tell you exactly what I was told: You're all picking sides, going around saying, "I'm on Paul's side," or "I'm for Apollos," or "Peter is my man," or "I'm in the Messiah group."
13-16I ask you, "Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces so we can each have a relic all our own? Was Paul crucified for you? Was a single one of you baptized in Paul's name?" I was not involved with any of your baptisms—except for Crispus and Gaius—and on getting this report, I'm sure glad I wasn't. At least no one can go around saying he was baptized in my name. (Come to think of it, I also baptized Stephanas's family, but as far as I can recall, that's it.)
17God didn't send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what he has done, collecting a following for him.
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