blessed reunions…

I was reading a few days back in the Chronicle of Narnia series, “The boy and his horse”, and was captivated by a line in that book that has haunted my thoughts.  Aslan, the great lion (God) meets up with the horses and two children and slowly begins to explain their situations and his actions.  As all four of them asked Aslan about why he did such and such to others, Aslan always replied by saying, “I can only tell you your story, not theirs.”  That line has been haunting me.  I love it.  I hate it.

Today I went out to the river to be alone with God.  I needed this time alone because God and I have some relational issues to work out.  Darkness and hardness has crept into my life.  I feel like God has hurt me in deep ways, and people around me try to encourage me and let me into their lives and offer advice that seems to fix problems…like, “if you only believe”…”God answers prayers, he did so for me in this way”…so on and so forth.  But, Aslan only can tell you your own story.  The “why” and “ways” he works in your own life.  It can be used to encourage others, but it can not be prescriptive, because Aslan, can only tell you your own story, not others. 

reference to “Jerk Essays”

I want to clarify again, what my intent is with the Jerk Essays.  They are only my rough around the edges thoughts.  They are conversations that I believe many people want to have but won’t go there because they will sound like a jerk.  So I have taken the liberty to do just that.  They are unrefined and maybe anti climatic, but hey, iron sharpens iron.

So here is a preview of possible contents:

If you have been around well meaning evangelical Christians, you may of heard the phrase “Take up your cross!”  I really wonder if those who say it, or try to, really understand what that means.  I know many who have said it to me, myself included, and really mean to say, “just get over yourself!”  If that is what you really want to say and wrap up in a serious statement that Jesus said, we are doing a great dis-service to the potency of that statement.  I have also heard it used to counsel someone to get over a self-control issue, like quit smoking, or don’t believe that, or act a certain way, etc. etc.  Once again, I think that is a misuse of the statement.  I do think those who say it mean well, but I am not so convinced that those sentiments are at the heart of that statement Jesus told his disciples.