Reframe, For A Full-Circle Blessing
Things have happened over the past week and weekend, that have brought important parts of my life “full circle”. I will write more about what happened later.
First, I want to touch on why it happened. I want to talk about why these “full circle” moments were even possible. They were made possible because they were given space to take place - because long ago I chose to never make a big decision with an unwell soul. Rather, I stayed my course, resisting “change for the sake of change”.
The Spirit had given me a certain perspective. It was up to me to then choose it. I obeyed it.
Perspective frames the whole story we are telling ourselves about ourselves and about others closest to us. Perspective is the lever that either moves mountains, or the catapult that crushes what would otherwise have been possibility.
Perspective is a choice. It is a function of the heart, and it guides the whole of the art that is our life.
Some time back, in what seems like another lifetime, though not that long ago, the Preacher had a conversation with a couple who were making big decisions from an unwell soul. He tried valiantly to offer another perspective, and to convince them to choose it. Instead, the husband replied in smooth, measured, cool tones, “Well. You always said someone’s perspective is their reality. My perspective is my reality”, basically using my husband’s own words against him. (The Pharisees did this to Jesus all the time.)
Immediately, I felt such pain for them. Because I heard Holy Spirit say, “They have chosen.” I knew, right then, this person’s perspective would in fact become their reality. It did not have to be so. We are given a gift called “repentance”. And it simply means we are always invited to choose a better story. Another perspective.
Reframe!
Oh, reframe!
Mercy In The Middle
“LORD, I have heard of your fame. I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. Renew your work “in the middle” of the years. “In the middle” of the years make it known. In wrath, you remember mercy.” Habakkuk 3:2
Mercy:
Compassion and
forbearance willingly
shown towards an
offender
All of earth-time is middle-time.
Human history is a hyphen in the text of eternity. It is a mere incident in the context of a God who exists outside of time. Kings and countries are like the mist of an Appalachian mountain: dropping in at dawning, and gone in a glance.
Current events on this world’s stage are like today’s palette of pigments. They exist for this time, for this painting, and will dry up and be scraped away to make a place for the next color story.
I, however, am the daughter of both time and of forever. My time-bound-life began in a gasping second, and will end the same way. My forever-free-life began from the moment of my regeneration. I don’t know how it happened, this miracle that was the awakening of my spirit inside this middle-space. All I know, is at the mere mention of the name of Jesus, my eternal spirit awoke to begin exploration of my life as His idea. My life, as an object of His affection! My very being, as a vessel of His mercy poured out day by day, offense after offense. And oh, how I have offended.
Yet it is my destiny to be loved more than galaxies of stars.
Everything He has ever done for anyone at any time, He is willing to do it again for me.
Every deed He has ever performed to become The Famous One, He is willing to do it again, to show Himself strong on behalf of my generation.
I’ve heard it said that every testimony and every “Amen” is just another way of saying, “We know You will do it again, God!”
Do it again, Papa! Do it again!
Right here, in my middle. In the middle.