| | ...and i was your silver lining / as the story goes...
Paul once asked me why someone would want to live with me for a long time. I remember being startled by the question not so much because of the implications, but because I couldn't think of a good answer. I had to call Shannon and ask for help coming up with a response. In the end I told him there is much laughter when I'm around, albeit often at my expense. I told him there is much music when I'm around, even if it's just my singing. I'm pretty sure I told him a couple of other things that Shannon reminded me of, but the details are fuzzy. What I do remember is feeling oddly dissatisfied with my answer and realizing that I needed a more solid one, more for myself than for him.
Healing comes our way in the most unexpected moments.
Last night my current roommate/fellow IV staffer/friend and I took a break from the packing/cleaning frenzy that accompanies the vacating of an apartment and ventured out in search of food. As we ate what I jokingly christened "our last supper," we talked about the things that we appreciate about each other and what the past year as roommates has meant to each of us. Ashley told me that living with me had provided a safe space for her to confront the issues that God was bringing to the surface of her life without fear of judgment or rejection. She told me that she had grown spiritually as we encouraged each other to practice the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and confession.
In that moment and because of her words I finally heard my answer.
I wrote an entry nearly three years ago about those moments - the ones where the words are being formed by human lips, but it is clear that they are divinely ordained.
My conversations with Jesus take place while we're both perched atop a split rail fence overlooking a meadow right about that magical point in the day when the sun is setting. Last night as we took stock of the day he turned and said, "What Ashley said to you is quite true. You call people to freedom and it's not just what you do, it's who you are. It's who I made you to be."
"Yes," I said, "I am just beginning to understand that."
He smiled, "Excellent! There's the need for some refining on the delivery and timing of those calls, but I've got that covered."
"Good to know," I laughed.
I'll have you know that it was a beautiful sunset.
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| | Posted 7/9/2009 10:33 AM - 58 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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