If It Seems too Good to be True...

...Sometimes its God.

This phrase came to me not too long ago, and it struck me! How much do we subscribe to that idea, that if its too good too be true, it must be? We are taught, over and over, through family, society, common sense (in many ways), friendships, and romantic relationships, that we should be wary of any great kindness, that most things are snakes in the grass. Of course, in many situations, it's a good rule of thumb... If you are buying a car, and the car is priced phenomenally low, the salesman is a little pushy and demanding, and you're not allowed to test drive before purchase, I would say this rule should be abided by. The problem arises when we bring this life principle in to the arena when dealing with Christ. Christ, is not selling anything. (As much as people often try to sell Him- sigh) He is not out to make us in to fools- and when every other area of our life seems be modeled around avoiding being made in to the fool, how do we accept the humble role of servant to our Lord? We must cast off this idea, that we are not to dream, that we are not to rejoice- and that we are not ever to be taken a fool. (At least a fool is teachable, and fool, here, does not equate stupidity.) It is possible to be aware, to be safe and to be intelligent, while also joyous. God allows for those things to co-exist. Not only does he allow it, he encourages and applaudes it. Does Christ promise an easy, care free road? No. He promises a road that will call you to trial, that will throw you to the wolves, lend you to deal with prejudice and hate- and that will likely strip you, dress you, and strip you again- but in that same breath, he promises you COMFORT, and, I feel, he promises you a reason to truly CELEBRATE. In a burned field, there is still the blooming flower, the gentle rose- and that is our presence in the world. We are uncrushable, we are unstoppable and we are gentle with God's love in our lives. We are the same, and yet, we choose to be different, we choose an embrace over revenge, we choose love over spite- we are entering a life that is unsteady, but necessary and key. Why, then, do we find ourselves so fearful of being taken advantage of, or being made in to a joke? Honestly- if we feel that way, we do not understand the true spark of divinity in God's power. We begin with this fear as an idea of self preservation, but if not kept in check, it turns in to a leak in the dam, and begins to rob us of intimacy and friendship with our God. We have to trust and believe in our leaders on earth; our partners, our friends, our father's, our families, and sometimes we are called be a leader ourselves... We must also trust God, this is no different- other than God is far more trustworthy.

The testimonies, that I have personally witnessed and personally experienced, of God's hand are unbelievable. A good friend of mine was once homeless- and literally, in total trust and humility, dropped to her knees and begged for a solution- and when she stood, she knew she was taken care of. Within three days, someone literally HANDED her a pair of keys, and she had a home. No cost, no strings. Just a wealthy man, trying to make a difference- he heard a call, he answered. It's a scary thought, honestly, according to our society standards. I asked her, "Were you scared that this person might have wanted something from you? Or that he might turn against you, or put something above you- as you would be in a position of "owing" him?" She smiled and said, "Of course I thought of it, but instead of worrying, I prayed, and I listened- and God showed me that this man's heart was good- and this gift of a home was God's intention, carried out by this person. And that it was alright, and that I should trust it." Within a week she was moved in- and she too heard a calling. She fed people, clothed people and took people in to that home- she opened it doors and the sorrowful and the sick came, to be cared for, to be touched and loved. There is a plan in this- that requires our full participation as human beings... I believe in my soul that she received that miracle, in that way, in that moment so that God could place a calling in her heart. It is imperative to remember that our blessings do not belong to the self- but to the whole, to the Body. God is the provider, but we distribute, and we sow the seeds.

On the other hand, there are people I have known my whole life, who hit their knees everyday, and as each day goes by, their constant prayer remains unanswered. Many people who experience this become so frustrated and so hurt, and as our lives go on, of course they do. And for some, they die with that prayer unanswered. Many, when this happens, turn their finger to God, I, however, turn my thoughts to us- to His people. If we all lived selflessly, giving freely out of every blessing, without fear and with only the purest of intentions in our hearts, the face of the world would be radically changed. Would there still be death? Oh yes, it is a part of life. Would there still be tragedy? Unfortunately. But no one would starve. No one would suffer abuse, no one would die at the hands of another, no one would be defiled and damaged- and so many more of those unanswered prayers would be answered, and with a shout! We are here to take care of each other, and help each other to learn, brothers and sisters. Starting now- let's dedicate to DOING it!

It is hard in life, and especially in this day and age where so many things are instantaneous, to deal with something we can so easily see as a constant disappointment. But the beauty, and the wholeness of living with unanswered prayers (which, lets be honest, be all must do- as we are not perfect, and cannot answer every call) is when we can still accept the good- and realize God's hand is still just as prevalent in our lives. We are truly reaching a whole new level of trust, selflessness and faith when we can understand that the timing of the gift, or the miracle, is just as important as the fulfillment of the promise itself. Believing in God's timing- and TRUSTING it, as in, relieving yourself from the stress of when and why, is incredibly important. That's the beauty! Even if everyone else fails you- God is still on your side, and He is still making an arrangement in your life. There will never be a day that you cannot come to Him and cry in to His spirit. But, if we spend our lives grieving over what we do not have, we have nothing- and everything we may have had, rots.

Sometimes, every once in a while, a gorgeous thing, or beautiful opportunity, the dream of a life time comes our way-- often with the price of hard work, and sometimes out of the realm of unexpected things. How many times do we look back, after being so heartbroken by a series of disappointments, but then, in retrospect, see how perfectly everything came together? Yes, parts are to be credited to your life choices, and parts are as a result of other's choices- but in the end, it is impossible to look back and not see God's hand and wisdom in the total picture. He loves us with a low voice, and guides us with a steady hand- not a loud yell and stern kick, because He wants us to LIVE. We are not puppets, and we don't want to be puppeteered... we are servants, to Him, and thereby, to each other. We have to want to serve, we have to want to do the most beautiful things, to invent a new way, and to boldly continue on- we need to want to be the catalyst which allows for a prayer to be answered, for a light to be switched on in the darkness. We need to want to love, all the time, everyday. And if we all lived out of that need, if we all focused on answering that call, there would be nothing to fear. Nothing would be too good to be true. Ever.