Hiding No More

The other day I was rummaging through my cabinets looking for who-knows-what when I stumbled upon one of my most prized possessions - a vintage Sputnik barometer globe made in West Germany.  It's a novelty from the 1960's, eye-catching because it has a very 'space age' flare. I bought it at a flea market from someone who knew nothing of it's true value so I could hardly contain my excitement when I walked away with it for only 12 bucks! I was so elated with my new found treasure that I brought it home, dusted it off, polished it up.....and stuck it in the back of a storage credenza?

Yep, there it has been for months and months. Hidden in the dark of a cabinet.  In fact, I had forgotten I even owned it until I swung open the door the other day. The little gem looked so out of place sitting next to my in-case-of-emergency candle stash and the Tiki Beach room spray. For a split second I thought "why the heck is this in here???" And then I realized...it's because I was afraid.

 Afraid it would get broken.

This tiny treasure is so delightful that I couldn't imagine exposing it to the rough and tumble dangers of my living room. The 'What Ifs' began to creep in. What if it gets dropped, or cracked, or smashed? What if I spill something on it? Needless to say the 'What Ifs' won and for a while my little space machine was fated to be locked away.  And it hit me....."I've done the very same thing with me"

 I've been hiding in some way or another for years. Keeping to myself and just sort of coasting along next to the vanilla bean candles. Hiding becomes a lifestyle after some time and you don't even realize you're doing it until someone knocks on the credenza door and you hold your breath because it feels safe there and you just don't want to break. For a while it isn't all that bad but sooner or later 'hiding' gets old and God calls to us "Come out, come out, wherever you are". (But not like Jack Nicholson in The Shining because that would be creepy)

God calls us out by moving aside the very thing we're hiding behind. He swings open the door and there we are facing a decision- "Do I risk stepping out or do I play it safe?" And then the 'What Ifs' start. What if I fail? What if people don't 'get' me? What if I screw it all up?

And here's the answer- Yes, You may fail, critics may whisper. The world may drop you and you'll have a few cracks to show for it. But the truth is- You're a Treasure. A novelty in your own right. Your value is beyond what most can comprehend.  You are worth being seen and heard and enjoyed. And if you break, remember that you can ~Never~ shatter beyond repair.

So when the door swings open, take a risk and step on out. The world needs you in it's Living room.

Lovestruck

I am changed. I am not the same person I used to be.

Love will do that to you.

You know that scene in the movie 'Elf' where he shows up at his dad's workplace, after falling head over heels for Zooey Deschanel. He spins around in pure delight, gushing "I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it!"
Well that's right about where I'm at.

I've totally fallen for, and I'm completely taken with...humanity. I absolutely love people. It's the most amazing thing ever!

And I can tell you exactly when it started.

It started when I became humble enough to truly love.

Being brought up in a christian home I was taught about love and grace. I invited Jesus into my heart, attended services every week, and memorized scripture. In my late twenties I served in church alongside my husband and this is where God gave me a super-mega reality check.

He showed me that I was religious, and not in a good way. It was in the most stinky, foul way ever. What is being religious? It is believing that you are connected to God because you are following a certain criteria. When many times it's that very criteria or doctrine itself that prevents us from a deeper connection.

I truly loved the Lord and I thought I loved people but I wasn't able to truly love - not yet.

Why?

Because of pride. Religion and pride oftentimes go hand in hand.  I wanted people to believe like me and think like me. I wanted them to adopt my doctrine and know my God. And I told myself I wanted this for them because I loved them and Jesus was like "that's not love, that's arrogance".  See, I was so intent on the purpose that I had lost sight of the people. And that was my problem- I didn't really see people. So God said "You've invited me into your heart, now I invite you into mine".

 I welcomed his invitation, and surrendered to the most incredible journey of my life.  The more I discovered  the heart of God, the more this "do-right to be-right" girl was proven wrong. A deep well of love started to fill me and I finally began to understand Grace. He showed me that he is absolutely wrecked with love for humanity.  The eyes of my own heart were opened, and somewhere along the way I lost the judgments and criticism. A new joy and a much MUCH greater peace took over. I couldn't help but say " I just LOVE people".  I don't love them so I can get them saved, I love them outside of an agenda.  When I look at a person I actually see them because now I value them.

I have become a student of Love and Life and this is one of the things I've learned so far - it is impossible to Love the way God loves without respecting a person's humanity.

And this is what I know about God- the invitation into His heart is always open.



Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts! I welcome you to join me in my journey of Love and Freedom.