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Intrigued?!?!

7-18-06

Brian McLaren states that “clarity is sometimes overrated and that intrigue is correspondingly undervalued.” Ok… I’m intrigued.

What does he mean when he says this? I like clarity. I like to “see clearly the rain is gone.” I like to see the bottom of the pool when I swim so I know what I am swimming in. I like to see clearly as I drive down the road so I don’t run in to anything. Clarity is overrated…how do we rate clarity? I can see how we rate clarity pretty high on the scale. Ok, I agree that it has a high rating. What about intrigue being undervalued. I find that intrigue is used to draw us in. I am intrigued as to what he is meaning so I am drawn into the conversation. I want to know more about what he means. Intrigue is used to draw us in but then we abandon intrigue in the search for clarity. So we have a minimal use of intrigue and an intense desire for clarity.

What is clarity? Seeing something clearly, understanding, having something figured out. In our relationship with the LORD we want to see Him clearly, understand Him…figure Him out? Can we figure God out? Can we really see Him clearly in the state of decay that we are in? Our bodies are in a state of decay while our spirits are in a relationship with Him. Ok, back to intrigue, I am intrigued by Him. My intrigue draws me in. If I am constantly intrigued does that mean I will be constantly drawn in? Maybe we really do undervalue intrigue. If I was intrigued by the LORD more often wouldn’t that be the key to more clarity? I said that clarity is seeing Him clearly, understanding Him, trying to figure Him out. We want to have the clarity, but we overrate it. We see the value in the end, not the process. The process is what takes us to the end. We can not find the clarity we desire without being intrigued. Where does this intrigue come from? Can we make this intrigue come from ourselves? When I am intrigued by something it is that thing that intrigues me. I do intrigue that thing. God must intrigue us. The relationship begins with Him. The pursuit begins with Him.

I agree with Brian in that “clarity is sometimes overrated and that intrigue is correspondingly undervalued.” When we enter into the relationship with the One that brings clarity we will receive it…but the clarity is not the point…the point is the relationship.

Simply Be

7/3/06

Sumatra Mandheling…it is a complexity of flavors that ends in a smooth spice. I am enjoying my experience with this cup. I am at Bitter End, a coffee shop in Grand Rapids. I am sitting here with my buddy Elch. We enjoy coffee, reading, discussing life, listening to music, and staring into space. This brings peace. Peace…we are not anxious in these moments, we are in our own worlds at times and then come back together to discuss what we’ve seen and heard. Separate but together…

How can we be separate but together? How can we be thinking our own thoughts but still be on the same page? I feel the key here is to “be”. This word is so complex. Two letters come together and say so much…

To exist in actuality; have life or reality: I think, therefore I am.

1. To occupy a specified position: The food is on the table.
2. To remain in a certain state or situation undisturbed, untouched, or unmolested: Let the children be.
1. To take place; occur: The test was yesterday.
2. To go or come: Have you ever been to Italy? Have you been home recently?
3. Used as a copula in such senses as:
1. To equal in identity: “To be a Christian was to be a Roman” (James Bryce).
2. To have a specified significance: A is excellent, C is passing. Let n be the unknown quantity.
3. To belong to a specified class or group: The human being is a primate.
4. To have or show a specified quality or characteristic: She is witty. All humans are mortal.
5. To seem to consist or be made of: The yard is all snow. He is all bluff and no bite.
4. To belong; befall: Peace be unto you. Woe is me.

Do we exist in actuality? Do we have life? Do we go? Do we come? Do we belong?

I think that all of these questions can be answered yes in the sense that we must have do all of these things to still be alive in the physical.

Do we do these things in the spiritual? Exist, have life, go, come, belong… Are we alive in the Spiritual?

Are we being physical…yes, we do that without thinking.

Are we being spiritual?

When sin entered this world did we stop being physical or stop being spiritual? Who were we distanced from? How should we pursue One that we are distanced from?

We must SEEK God…we have probably heard about a hole that only God can fill…this hole may be our spiritual side that is longing to be completed again. W are physical and spiritual beings that long to have both parts satisfied. I am fully alive when I am BEING fully physical and BEING fully spiritual.

Just as two letters come together in a complex way, and two friends can be totally different in totally different worlds but BE together so should we BE…we should SIMPLY BE.

Beautiful. Thank you. I want to be with you.

Game time...

Beautiful:

This glove is unique to my hand…I have been placed in a position. My Father is playing with me. We have been playing for years, learning the game, enjoying each other. I haven’t had a glove because I haven’t needed it yet. I had to grow into it. The glove was being specially fitted for me. My Father has been teaching me how to care for this glove and move it properly. I had to learn when to raise it up and when to squeeze it. I had to learn how to care for it so that the softness and flexibility would still be there. It was made of fine leathers that were very supple and I didn’t want to mess them up.

I now have taken my position, I have learned to trust my Father, and I am equipped to play. The game is about to start and I get a little bit nervous. I don’t know if I needed to practice more or if I learned all the rules. I look into my Father’s eyes and I know that I have everything that I need. He has faith in me and I have faith in Him. I am ready to play any position but He reminds me that He only needs me to play the one that I am in right now. I need only remember what I’ve learned and enjoy the game. He throws me the ball and I squeeze at just the right time, the glove wraps around the ball and holds it until I am ready to pick it up with my other hand and throw it wherever my Father tells me. My palms are still a little sweaty, I am nervous that I might ruin my glove that is so precious. I am afraid to get it dirty but my Father assures me that it can withstand the pressure of the game as long as it is on my hand. He has carefully created it so that it will never fall off and will always be ready to go.

I start to realize that the point is not me or the glove but the game and being able to show everyone how incredible my Dad is. I have the coolest Dad around and other people see the game going on. They want to join in and play. They see us laughing and running, never stopping but constantly with each other. People begin coming from all over to play in the game that my Father started. I realize that I used to be on the sidelines where they were, or running around the concession stand getting snacks and other things but realized that the game was so much more satisfying. I realized that I couldn’t have a relationship with my Father if I was over eating candy.

He was calling out to the people at the concession stand all the time, “Come” and play over here. There’s room on the field, there are positions open…He would stand at the gates and tell them, “Come and follow me”. I’ll show you how to play. Don’t waste any more time, there is a game going on and I want YOU to play. I remember being at the concession stand and constantly running back for more…but now I’m with my Father…

…and I’m playing.

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