We arrived home yesterday after two and a half weeks enjoying some wonderful time together in the beauty of the Sierras. Sara and I got lots of time in with family and friends as well as some long walks in the woods with our two dogs. And I got a chance to water ski–something I enjoyed as a young man, but have not had much opportunity to do for the past few decades. I got to ski more in the past two weeks than in my previous 30 years. And it was fun. There’s something about cutting through glassy water on a slalom ski that I find exhilarating to my mind and heart. Especially at my age! And there was something about tubing behind a boat with my granddaughters through rough water that was hilarious funny and quite renewing. I am so grateful for the vacation God gave us this year. So good!
Now we’re home to a very busy schedule. Over the next few weeks we will have a number of guests coming to stay with us. Next week the producer and screenwriter for the movie adaptation of So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore are coming to spend two days working on the script. After that our board will be gathering here for the weekend to sort out what God has in mind through Lifestream. They are followed by a songwriter/author friend of mine who wanted my input on some of his projects, and then I’ll spend another day with someone helping us reformat our website to add some new features that will help us do what we do.
All that aside, there’s a deeper undercurrent to our lives right now. Starting next week, I am also taking a hiatus from The God Journey Podcast for an indefinite period of time. I have no idea if it will be short or long, but don’t worry, there’s no crisis here. I explain all of that on tomorrow’s episode. Given the project I’ve been working on for the last eight months and the new work God is doing in Sara, we both sense that the wind of the Spirit is blowing across our lives inviting us to a different direction. We’re not at all sure what that might mean for us, but we think it will send us on a new tack. We are simply creating some space in our lives to let God speak to us clearly about that, and didn’t want to just plunge ahead doing what we’ve always done.
Honestly, I’m excited even in the uncertainty of what’s ahead. God has heard my prayer. In this season of life, I want to give myself to those things that will most bear the fruit of God’s purpose in the world through his gifts in me. There may be better ways to do that, than simply maintaining the course we’ve been on for many years.
Time will tell.
Wayne, so maybe you write a book called, “So you don’t want to do podcasts anymore”… I for one will miss my Firday download but seriously love the freedom in what you are saying. I am more glad you are doing this than I’ll let you know. As for you comment about the question of, “what is love”. My world was rocked one day, a few years ago. I was getting ready to do a small concert at a “Children’s Home”. These kids were ages 2 years to 18 and they were at the home because of either horrible family conditions or behavior that was short of needing to be admitted into a mental health facility. I was talking with the pastor, he was telling me about the children when he said something that has haunted me since. He said, “There and some children who come into our home that we have to spend months helping them understand what love REALLY is. Some of them have heard “if you do this, you will love me” (obviously sadistic behavior)”. I heard more in what he didn’t say than what he did. His eyes showed pain that I can still see today. Won’t spend much more time on this but I see that many of those who are hurt in religions organization have the same type of wounds…they didn’t know the true love of a real father. They were taught with the same relative wickedness….”if you love god, you will do this.”
Coming out of that, my sense is that it takes time for that love to unfold, for a trust to build in our Father that He is Good. For me, leaning into the reality that it was not about my love for him but His love for me. I somehow keep learning more and more about his love for me, the riches in that love somehow fill me more and more. Just can’t explain it but, If you ever hear him say, “I love you”, you won’t be the same. My song would be…listen.
Wayne, so maybe you write a book called, “So you don’t want to do podcasts anymore”… I for one will miss my Firday download but seriously love the freedom in what you are saying. I am more glad you are doing this than I’ll let you know. As for you comment about the question of, “what is love”. My world was rocked one day, a few years ago. I was getting ready to do a small concert at a “Children’s Home”. These kids were ages 2 years to 18 and they were at the home because of either horrible family conditions or behavior that was short of needing to be admitted into a mental health facility. I was talking with the pastor, he was telling me about the children when he said something that has haunted me since. He said, “There and some children who come into our home that we have to spend months helping them understand what love REALLY is. Some of them have heard “if you do this, you will love me” (obviously sadistic behavior)”. I heard more in what he didn’t say than what he did. His eyes showed pain that I can still see today. Won’t spend much more time on this but I see that many of those who are hurt in religions organization have the same type of wounds…they didn’t know the true love of a real father. They were taught with the same relative wickedness….”if you love god, you will do this.”
Coming out of that, my sense is that it takes time for that love to unfold, for a trust to build in our Father that He is Good. For me, leaning into the reality that it was not about my love for him but His love for me. I somehow keep learning more and more about his love for me, the riches in that love somehow fill me more and more. Just can’t explain it but, If you ever hear him say, “I love you”, you won’t be the same. My song would be…listen.
I am glad to hear that y’all are taking some time off. I am sure that the Spirit of God will lead you in your next step. I will continue to pray for y’all.
Peace,
Heather
I am glad to hear that y’all are taking some time off. I am sure that the Spirit of God will lead you in your next step. I will continue to pray for y’all.
Peace,
Heather
Oh, wow, I didn’t know a movie was being made of your book. I loved that book! I also work in the film industry, and would love to somehow be in touch with the Producer. Being a part of the crew during production would be amazing!
Oh, wow, I didn’t know a movie was being made of your book. I loved that book! I also work in the film industry, and would love to somehow be in touch with the Producer. Being a part of the crew during production would be amazing!