On All Occasions: Holding on, While Letting Go: Traversing discouragement

On All Occasions: Holding on, While Letting Go: Traversing discouragement
I am free to let go of things for the sake of making the supremacy of God's worth known. John Piper

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

The War is Over, Love Has Come

Jeanie - age 8
The assignment read --- “Glue a picture that represents a meaningful part of your story. Jot down why this picture means something to you.” Freeway: A not-so-perfect guide to freedom, by Mike Foster & Garry Poole. Without much thought, I scanned and printed a photo from childhood that I have always liked. As I taped the photo into the book, I noticed her freckles, those big brown innocent eyes and cute smile, and suddenly I am captivated, by this little 8-year-old girl…She has something that I have lost over the years.

What happened?

The setting was 1968, El Paso, TX – a special day, just dad and me at the military base recreational park. She was a tomboy then – enjoyed chasing jack rabbits, catching horned toads, and exploring the tumbleweed terrain. She had the patience to play a game of Monopoly until the very end, and she wanted to be an archaeologist, and dig up bones in the desert.

Dad, not pictured in the photo, was days away from heading off to the war in Vietnam.

Awareness crept in as I looked a little closer into her eyes…she was free! She hadn't yet learned the ways of war, the rules of engagement, and tactics of camouflage. She had yet to learn to fear. And I realized I wanted for myself now, what she once had – freedom.

Fast forward from this picture to 40 plus years later, I’m in my living room among a circle of friends, together exploring our areas of brokenness. Though things to fear have long since passed away, the modi operandi remain.

Awareness is the first step. “A simple invitation to slow down, let blurry eyes see, and let a loving God quietly speak to us.” Freeway.

Later sitting at Woods Coffee, writing a vocal variety speech slash blog…It needs emotion, I think, as my insides quiver – always a good sign that I’m approaching the threshold of a previously unexpressed truth…

Preparing and taking an inventory, I realize I am –
…still wearing combat gear, trying to capture the hill of my self-worth.
…still carrying weapons of defense against an unknown enemy, as if a Sovereign God did not exist.
…still engaging in strategies and tactics that are so ingrained they come without forethought.   

What would I say to the little girl lost inside? "The war is over little one… It’s safe to come out. Be free. It is safe to lay your weapons down. Live free!"


This song holds special meaning for the journey.

White Flag, by Chris Tomlin

The battle rages on
As storm and tempest roar
We cannot win this fight
Inside our rebel hearts
We’re laying down our weapons now

We raise our white flags.
We surrender all to you
All to you
All to you

We raise our white flag
The war is over
Love has come
Your love has won

Here on this holy ground
You made a way for peace
Laying your body down
You took our rightful place
This freedom song is marching on

We raise our white flags.
We surrender all to you
All to you
All to you

We raise our white flag
The war is over
Love has come
Your love has won”

Is there room in your day for Jesus to quietly speak?

What weapons do you need to lay down?