A guide from beyond...

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
-Rumi

This last week was packed full of some really tough personal trials in my world. There were some moments where I stood on some promises of God in the face of some unknown paths ahead...in naked faith. These are pivotal places that expose your inner life and the material that is built within it. In this trail, I was comforted by the revelation of God's will and grace in some new ways. I found a place of acceptance of the uncontrollable and the energy of the possible that is only realized by stepping into the place of surrender. When you let go...you discover something that you were holding but couldn't truly see until you surrendered what you thought you had. Does that sound like something Yoda would say...I know, but its true, if you've been in that spot, you understand.

I don't believe that the way of Jesus is simply an art of letting go, or a denial of reality or a path of personal renunciation. Becoming some unfeeling block of ancient stone isn't Jesus spirituality...it Buddhism. God is a God of Justice...and that means compassion isn't going to disengage and put on a straight jacket of acceptance...but instead true freedom is found in becoming an instrument of transformation. God isn't meditating...He is saving.

But, there is a mystery in this outworking, that involves embracing the darkness of God that illuminates the soul...until darkness and light become alike to the seeing pilgrim. A calm, settles into the frantic prone, jittery leaning heart...a slumber soon descends that allows one to sleep in the storm.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. -Romans 8:28