I wrote this on Monday, but got so busy with the beginning of school, today was the first time I had to sit down and actually get it online.
Although I had planned to write more over the summer, it did not happen. I was busy reading, doing my grad school work, and playing with my family. I’ve been feeling pushed / pulled by the Holy Spirit to step out in some areas and take some risks. I’ve had ideas floating around in my head about things to focus on and what to let go. The quandary is finding the balance. Knowing myself, it is all too easy to try to do it all and leave the important stuff in the dust. So rather than have a to do list for writing, I had a to DON’T list: don’t stress the small stuff, don’t set unrealistic goals, don’t work all summer, don’t ignore the important stuff. For the most part I succeeded and I had the best summer I’ve had since becoming a teacher. I feel refreshed and (mostly) ready to start the year with new kids. I actually even slept most of the night last night. (That is huge because I never sleep well the night before the first day of school.)
But as a new year starts, I would like to write more. Writing makes me feel alive and it connects me with myself. Mostly, it is a purely selfish endeavor. But it is also where I am gifted, so how can I use that gift to serve others. In praying about my writing, an idea came to me to focus on “God things”… you know, those moments where you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has intervened into our everyday lives. Those moments where God shows up and takes over. Those moments when the impossible suddenly becomes possible. Those moments when what happened leaves you in awe. And those moments are not always earth shattering. Many times, for me at least, they are heartbreakingly simple. But in the simplicity, there is a profound sense of wonder that the God of the universe loves me that much, enough to intervene in the details of my life. It is often beyond description so trying to describe those “God things” in writing; well, it is a somewhat daunting task. However, it is a worthwhile task.
So, here is my first of hopefully many “God things” posts. I have had the absolute privilege of using my pain, my past, to help others in their journey toward freedom from the trauma of childhood abuse. The wounds are deep and sometimes seem impossible to heal. And that impossibility is where God things happen. Last week, a leap of faith was taken, a bridge to the unknown was crossed, and a precious child of God realized just how much God was in the moment. Fighting, sometimes with kicking and digging heels in, she took a step of obedience that crossed that invisible line of healing. I see it and others see it. I’m not sure she sees it yet, but I know from my own experience that she will look back on that step of faith as the turning point in her journey. When she shared with me I was in awe of God’s faithfulness and his mercy to those that have been so deeply wounded. I wanted to jump around and dance for joy for her breakthrough. But I was driving so I kind of had to pay attention to the road. But on the inside, I was dancing and shouting and laughing. I had a clear vision of the line she had just crossed and my whole self was filled to overflowing with joy for my friend. Her God thing became my God thing and I could sense the heavens were rejoicing with me. Yep, there was definitely a party going on in heaven on that day.
Her breakthrough is a God thing because only God could have shown her love in such tangible ways that were meaningful for her and her only. He loves her so much that he meets her right where she is in the exact way she needed it. It is beyond compare and I am so blessed that she shared it with me.
I’ll be posting more about when God things happen to me or others. I would love for you to share your God things with me. Together, we can serve others through what God does for us on a daily basis.
