Cliffhangers
January 5, 2025
A Trusting Leap
Dear Nieces & Nephews,
I’ve been thinking about cliffhangers lately, as I’ve resumed my writing of “Mystery at Lake Paradise.” I want my readers to keep coming back for more, waiting and wondering, staying attuned and engaged.
Does God do the same in our lives? Is that part of his strategy for keeping us engaged? If there was no unresolved conflict, would we tune out? And is there a way to “read” with our hearts so caught up in our story that we don’t want
to be diverted by sin and distraction?
I believe there is, and it’s only through the big-picture lens of the Kingdom that we will see it for the adventure it is. Through my own
lens, I see trouble and hopelessness. Through the Kingdom, I see the mystery and tension of the not-yet
and I-wonder-how
as I free-fall through uncertainty.
A couple years ago, Uncle Kerry and I faced the most difficult question of our lives. We were looking darkness full in the face and had to decide if we’d let it into our home.
Could we live alongside evil?
Could it possibly be God’s will?
We never got a clear “Yes.” We just knew we couldn’t not. It was too woven into our lives to turn our back on it. And so we reached deep inside, found a brighter light, exhaled fear and leaped.
The King caught us.
We’re still falling, but we’re learning that re-positioning ourselves safely in His arms daily, even moment-by-moment, keeps us from hitting bottom and even gives us the ability to enjoy the view.
From that vantage point, Psalm 131 is one of my favorites, from The Passion Translation:
“Lord, my heart is meek before You.
I don’t consider myself better than others.
I’m content to not pursue matters that are over my head –
Such as your complex mysteries and wonders –
That I’m not yet ready to understand.
I am humbled and quieted in your presence
Like a contented child who rests on its mother’s lap,
I’m your resting child, and my soul is content in You.
O people of God, your time has come to quietly trust,
Waiting upon the Lord now and forever.”
Quietly trust?
Yes. Even in a world of cliffhangers.
And from that place of rest, I will not submit to the darkness I live with. Rather, I will grow in my authority in Christ. I will keep turning on the light. I will keep thanking Him. Keep praising Him. Keep praying. Keep speaking life. Keep loving.
Our homes are meant to be shelters from the storm; we’re just in a leaky-roof season for a little while. I believe it will come to an end and we’ll be dry again. But then there will be something new to face outside, where we’ll learn even more the art of resting during trouble.
As I’ve heard Bill Johnson say, we only have authority over the storms we’ve learned to sleep through.
And here’s one thing I’ve learned in the presence of darkness: In this world, nothing’s that clear-cut. You’ll find light hidden deep in the darkness, and darkness in the light. Good and evil do live side-by-side. My human definitions and judgments always hit dead-ends and remind me again not to pursue matters I’m not ready to understand. I’m no better than anybody else.
“Oh people of God, your time has come to quietly trust.”
May a supernatural well of quiet trust rise up in you today, enabling you to face trouble as a Kingdom adventure and cliffs as something to leap from. Just don't forget to ask the King first. And kids, your parents too!
All My Love,
Aunt Michelle
Dear Nieces & Nephews, I haven’t written in a while. It’s not because I’ve thought of you less, but because the thoughts haven’t been clear enough to express. So maybe it’s a time for asking questions instead. How are you? Is your summer ready to hit full-swing? Do you have plans for deep soul-rest mixed into your bucket list? Does this list reflect your heart’s desires, or just the “summer shoulds” that swirl around our culture? Or the demands of your people? Are you giving extravagantly to them, while still letting them exercise their “NO" muscles? Are you exercising your “NO" muscle? Speaking of which, here’s a question about me: Do I teach too much about grace, and not enough about consequences? Probably. I hope that where I have, God will bring balance. He promises to be our Teacher. So maybe I can take the pressure off and realize I only carry a small piece of what He’s saying, and that’s OK. I’m not making or breaking anyone’s life. How about you? Are you putting too much pressure on yourself to be more than you are or to have more than is yours? If so, here are two wonderful terrible thoughts to remember: It’s not about me. ( Whew) I’m not God and am no one's savior. ( Double whew) Some of you have asked how you can help me through this season. I didn’t know until Shannon asked me at church this morning. Mid-answer, it became clear to me: Don't be afraid to look me in the eye. Tell me what’s happening in your life. Show me the world is bigger than the problem trying to block my view. Remind me that I’m still me, and tough things happening don’t change who I am. I'm still just plain ol' yours truly, Aunt Michelle
Let God Handle The Heavy Stuff
Dear Nieces & Nephews, Images of you have been filling my mind this morning. You’re going through so much. I want to be with you in it. But lives have put physical distance between us, along with the invisible barriers that come with full homes and schedules ... only to be crossed at special events and chance encounters at Costco. I sure do want this to change. Being with each other really is a very big deal. It’s the substance of relationship. Jesus wanted his disciples with him when he was entering his darkest hour. He brought them to Gethsemane with him. When he told them he was overwhelmed with grief and sorrow to the point of death (pretty vulnerable), it’s remarkable that they fell asleep on him. It’s not like He had a victim mentality and talked that way all the time. “I want someone with me in my pain,” is central to the human heart, and I believe mirrors God’s. Yet how often do we sleep through our loved ones’ pain? Or defend ourselves in it? Or analyze it? Or devalue it by trying to rationalize it away? Yesterday was the portion of Resurrection Weekend that experiences Jesus’ pain with him, that watches and prays with him, that doesn’t try to explain anything away or fix anything, but just stays with Him. I'm going to give it another day. What does that MEAN for me today, Lord? What does it LOOK like? Watch and pray f or WHAT? There are no soldiers for me to watch for. Perhaps I am just to watch. ??? Why is this so hard? I want to know what to watch for. And I want to know what to do when I see it. But you haven’t told me that yet. And if I try to prepare for it, I’ll bring along a sword and cut off someone’s ear, or something equally rash. JUST WATCH. AND PRAY. AND BE WITH HIM. Be with Him in His pain. Be with my family members in their pain. Don’t try to fix anything. Don’t defend myself. Don’t analyze it or assign blame. JUST WATCH. AND PRAY. AND BE WITH THEM. And remember. I didn’t prepare for this at all, but I’m going to set up our kitchen island with the closest thing I have to bread and wine, and serve a day-long communion. I'm going to remember what my Savior did for me as I watch and pray, and invite Uncle Kerry and your cousins to do it with me. And I'll be remembering YOU, my nieces and nephews. Maybe I can’t be with you, but I remember you. I am praying for you. And I am watching for any points of reconnection. All my love, Aunt Michelle
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