If you could script your own story, what would it look like? Your perfect life, written as a novel, any way you please. Would you be rich? Famous? In peak condition and with time to spare?
According to popular belief our time here consists primarily of random experiences, chaotically strung together. Sorry, I don’t buy it, not for a second.
You are a living narrative — your life is a story. Look around you — do you see the characters? Think back to your past. There, among events which may have seemed disparate at the time, you will discover the makings of a plot, common threads and clues which act as beacons along the road as it stretches into the adventure which lies ahead.
But stuff goes wrong so often. Well, every good tale is hinged on a few climactic events. You would not read the book if they were not there, nor would a TV series hold any appeal. Also, to use Donald Miller’s words, characters within any narrative don’t generally want to change. We need to be turned upside down at times by an “inciting incident”, something which will drag us into the part of the story we were destined to live, but only in very rare cases would have chosen for ourselves.
I believe the Author is inviting us to take up our proverbial pens as His fellow writers. The difference between this message and the one touted by the self-help crowd is precisely that — we are not alone. And, as He promised, we never will be. If you take stock of your life thus far you will find many instances of His very real presence by your side. So focused on our problems and challenges, we often overlook the undergirding tapestry, woven together with chords of unconditional love.
Should you choose to embrace the call, your story will be one where love triumphs. Despite the hardship, despite the events we cannot explain, in the end there will be no regrets as you look back upon a life surrendered and look forward to an even better one. And remember, it can change with the turning of a page. The latter chapters often contain the intrigue, revelation and fulfillment which has been the desire of your heart for so many years.
So think about your story from this point onwards. Will it be one numbed by the distractions of comfort, commodified to keep in step with thousands of fellow drones as you relinquish the Dream? I didn’t think so.
Where the Light and the Fire meet, there I see our paths converging.
I ask this question as much to myself as to you: Do we believe that Love is truly worth the risk?
Glory to Him
WS