Note: Practical Theology: encouragement meeting at the Seneca house Wednesday 7:00pm
Below is last weeks postcard:
When I was in my teens, I came home late at night, locked the door, and went to bed. Later I heard scratching sounds at the door and, angry that someone was breaking in, grabbed a baseball bat with which to hit them if they made it through the door. Fortunately it was not a burglar. Unfortunately it was my sister, who had gotten in even later than me. Fortunately I didn’t hit her with the bat. Unfortunately, standing with a baseball bat and threatening your sister at two in the morning can cause her to be a bit intimidated by you. I felt that same anger again this past week. The anger that I feel when someone invades and steals. Last week in our elder’s meeting, Eric and I prayed intensely. I felt the presence of someone who would invade and steal. The image was one of those people who stand too close. Who stand within the circle we have around us that can only be invaded by spouses, children, close friends, fellow airline passengers, and used car salesmen. It was intimidating. I realize in retrospect that we are often intimidated from walking where God wants us to walk and from doing the brave things God calls us to do. Intimidation is real. It stands close and steals our breath away. It uses the phrase, “What if...?” a lot and leaves scary ends to those words. It makes us imagine the terrors that might be. It keeps us from risk. I got very angry for the Village last week. Angry that the liar intimidates us and that he breaks in and steals our life. Eric and I prayed for freedom from that
intimidation.
Rod |