Today, a casual acquaintance told me that they believe the book, "The Shack", is pagan. I was a little surprised by this comment, until I realized that this person's use of the term "pagan" was her snarky way of saying that this book's message drastically differs from her own religious belief system.
Surprisingly, I did not feel the need to defend the book, or to "correct" my friend.
And for me, this is evidence that God is at work in my life.
Today, I also met with our city's interim director of Community Services to discuss the role of our Social Services Advisory Board. In that meeting, I realized that even though we are very different people, with very divergent opinions on a variety of topics, we both care about our city. Thus, we were able to find common ground and as a result, our meeting was very productive.
This too, is evidence that God is at work in my life.
Left to my own devices, I would have verbally pummeled my friend to align her beliefs about "The Shack" with my own. Left to my own devices, I would have labeled the interim director of Community Services as my adversary, an attude that might very well have undermined our service to the very community we both value so highly.
...but something miraculous happens when a person walks through this life, arm and arm with the living God. They begin to realize the impotence of agendas and egos. They begin to see opportunities where others see only the battle. They begin to realize that their adversaries are really their brothers and sisters in disguise.
I have found that it is virtually impossible for me to set aside my own ego, my own agenda, my own need to be right. Left to my own devices, I wouldn't even try.
....but again, something miraculous happens when a person walks through this life, arm and arm with the living God. God changes everything and miracle of miracles, God is changing me.
Thank you God, for the peace you have given me today.
That peace is a treasure beyond words.
2 comments:
Wow!
I am glad for you, for the partnerships you are a part of, for our city...but mostly I am glad for you. The peace sounds awesome! The miraculous experiences you mentioned...enjoy them. They seem rare to me.
I agree Patti, such miracles, such moments of "self-forgetting" are few and far between.....
This is why I believe they are such causes for celebration when they do happen.
Sadly, I screwed up in the meeting with the interim director too. I triangulated a conversation that I should have had with one person, a person who wasn't even present at that meeting.
That was an error in judgement that I deeply grieve.
Even so, in this present moment, I am willing to trust God and to side with Christ against my own self-judgement.
And for me not blow myself all to shit for one mistake...well that's probably the greatest miracle of all!
Post a Comment