With or Without God?
Little kids come in crying, telling different stories about what happened. Most of the time, parents can figure out the truth pretty quick. Sometimes both versions of the story are true, depending on the point of view. To get back to peace and quiet, we’ll believe one or ignore them both.
Most of us have multiple versions of our stories. I’ve got the version with my dad at the center, where he’s the bad guy behind so much of my stuff. Then there’s the “underwhelming” version where I stumbled from mistake to mistake, missing out on all kinds of opportunities. There’s the “lucky” version where the silver spoon protrudes from an orifice. And there’s the spiritual version with God involved at every turn. All these versions have the same facts. They’re all true. The question is what’s the active truth…the motivating truth…the version of the story that is ‘top of mind’ most of the time? The truth we go back to before we go to sleep at night? The version we tell ourselves when we’re alone?
Suicide brings this “multiple story” thing into sharp focus. No sooner than it happens, multiple versions of ‘why’ emerge. Were they sick, angry, depressed, confused, overwhelmed, over-medicated? Did they plan it for a long time or make a split-second decision? What were they thinking? Those left behind toil over the different versions of the story. Each shares the same facts. Each is true. Ultimately, because the version of the story motivating the person when he/she did the deed can’t ever be known, those who survive have no choice but to pick a version of the story and go with it. The version they choose has huge consequences…not only will it affect how they think about the person who died, it has a huge impact on how they’ll think about themselves. For the rest of their lives.
The new Tom Hanks/Emma Thompson movie Saving Mr. Banks shows how the story we tell ourselves about ourselves is extremely important. The two main characters, Walt Disney and P.J. Travers sort through which version of their stories they’ll believe and, more importantly, what they’ll do with their lives as a result.
You and I face the same choice. Will we stay stuck in an old, worn-out version of our story? Or will we embrace God’s version…the one where He’s redeemed everything we’ve experienced. The story where good things happened and He’s the source. And where He’s the One who’s redeemed everything sad or painful for His good purposes, many of which we won’t know or understand until we get to Heaven.
If we truly believe in an omniscient, omnipresent, all-powerful God, then His version of our story is the one that matters. If His story of redemption is my story, I know I’m loved and I’m safe. If He’s the Author, I can trust Him with the script….with all the twists and turns in the plot line…to overcome all antagonists and through Him, to prevail in the end.
Let’s make 2014 the year we yield everything to our Lord. Let’s let Him write the story as we relax into our roles…whatever He determines them to be.
Happy New Year!
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Responses (2)
Right on, Regi! For some guys (including me), 2013 was a year that couldn’t end soon enough. So, I’m choosing to look at the new year as the end of that season of life and the beginning of a new season. So, it is really important for me to look back and determine what is my story (really His story) for that season and let the rest of the stories fade away.
My word for 2014 is deliberate! I want to live His story for me in an obedient, humble, expectant way. Intentional? Yes. But not “house on fire” intentionality…deliberate, careful, deep and full instead. The only way to extend your time on earth is to live it more slowly, more observant, thoughtful, thankful. More minutes per clock hour by being fully present in His Presence.