Finding Lost Things

A few months ago I felt compelled by the Ruach (Spirit) of God to watch the original Tinker Bell movie (via Netflix). Lying in a borrowed bed and sipping night coffee, I watched the story of the little fairy, born of a baby's first laugh, who finds herself in a circle of enchantment: the beginning of her journey towards self discovery and thriving in her true identity. She is to be given her name and her talent, and Queen Mary answers her doubts that she'll be sure to know her talent because it will choose her. When the "tinker" talent radiates a glowing knowing of the life-work Tinker Bell has ahead of her, she still has many doubts. As I watched the little fairy try to do her fairy friends' talents and fail, I saw her disappointment and discouragement grow as she attempted to live out others' callings and push her own aside. Her friends could see the gifts and creativity, the incredible abilities Tinker Bell had been given (in fact, the tinker tool glowed the brightest of all for her!) and through their encouragement and affirmation, Tinker begins to realize the natural gifts and abilities she has been given. She is called and destined to find lost things and create beautiful new things out of the old. 

Sound familiar? God our loving Father wants to find His lost children, and from their old broken patterns create new and beautiful ways of life that reflect His true nature: loving, glorious, pure and holy. The One who makes light shine from the darkness and creates out of nothing everything that was ever created is looking for adaptable, moldable people (sons and daughters) who will be transformed to display His glory on earth and invite His Kingdom to reign here (earth) as it is there (Heaven). "When God reigns, the order of the day is redeeming justice, true peace, and joy made possible by the Holy Spirit." He has given and assigned us our talents from the beginning of time. Once we know what they are (and who we are) we get to encourage others in their discovery, too!

I said I watched this movie "in a borrowed bed". It's amazing to me to recount the story of God's faithful love and kindness, provision and protection over me. Since He called me to California in 2015, my Abrahamic journey "to the land I will show you", (read about that here), I've received and slept in 8 different beds: all places that were temporary homes. Even before that, it has been a whirlwind of transition, discovery, dying and finding new life, true identity! Since we-- all who believe-- have been given new eternal life through His Anointed One, we're all living as pilgrims and sojourners on the earth.

I wrote the following poem before my westbound adventure. In light of feeling more settled in this season, it still serves as a great reminder to me (and I hope to you, too) of the journey towards our permanent (eternal) Heavenly Home. 

As you read it, perhaps you'd like to reflect on these questions:

* What Season of Life are you currently in? 

* Does it feel comfortable and steady or transitional and unstable?

* How might God be inviting you to be faithful in this season? Where can you sense His peace and contentment, despite the circumstances?

Feel free to comment any reflections below!

Rest 

I'd like to write a memory
but I can't separate myself from the person who is me
in the future--
it's true, those songs on the radio make us
reflect, ponder, think the past.
     We took a looking glass to the past
     and we pulled out the beauty.
See, God's hand was in the story the whole time.

There's a fork in the river.
There's only one up stream.
The grass really is green.
The other side is here.

The other side is here!
Here is where Life is still life,
Present is still present,
back there is still
back there.
So keep moving forward
{O My Soul}
have a place called Home:
a home for living,
a home, a life,
settle in, stay for a while.
Get comfy.

[But]
What is comfortable?
When comfortable settles in,
I get tired, sticky and wanting
change, to move and grow;
comfortable isn't alway so comfortable.
Comfortable is sometimes fear of the uncomfortable,
                                                  of the unknown,
of the not-so-close-to-home, good feeling,
unfamiliar
yet so familiar,
rebellious of the pattern.