The Longer I Wait, the Deeper I Know

J.K. Rowling first dreamed up Harry Potter in 1990, while on a train from Manchester to London. She finished the story in 2007 with the final book in the seven novel epic. Now, that’s a long story. Those who followed it all the way to its conclusion were held in suspense until the very last pages. We were all surprised by the ending — all of us, that is, except J.K. Rowling. She clearly had planned it all from the very beginning; she always knew how it would end.

This is the wonder of a great story and the gift of the great storyteller. They plot everything precisely and then make us wait for the surprise ending. While we wait, our anticipation grows, preparing us for the BIG finish! In the end, what we couldn’t possibly have imagined happening surprises us, and we’re completely gob-smacked by the satisfaction we feel. If we had skipped ahead to the conclusion, it would be empty. We’d have an ending, but no resolution.

It’s tempting in today’s world to want to fast forward things. Our technology and consumer conveniences make it possible to skip the lines, avoid the traffic, and tape the game so we can fast forward through the commercials. Stories aren’t meant to be experienced this way. They take their time, just like our lives do. That’s a good thing, right? Who wants to rush to the end?

But really, why not? If what God has promised is so much better than what we’ve got, why not fast-forward us to the good part? Perhaps because the God who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine (Eph 3:20), is still working on us.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. ~ Ephesians 3:20

God, the great storyteller, is telling His story by His power that is at work within us. For the satisfying resolution to make sense to us, we have to read all the way through to our last page.

We’re not meant to jump to the end of our lives without reading the middle parts. Something of God grows up in our lives as we learn to lead them. It will allow us, with all the Lord’s holy people, to stand before the love of Christ that is so much more than anyone could ever ask or imagine and find ourselves completely filled by it. (Eph 3: 14-20) Hard to believe, right?

Definitely. Yet, if Ms. Rowling had told me in Book 3 how Harry’s story would end, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have believed it either. It took four more books to develop the breadth of things which ushered me into the only ending that made sense.

So, even though from my vantage point on this side of my life story, the path to a happy ending may look narrow and perilous, to the God who conceived, wrote and is still writing it, it’s a broad expanse. It’ll take a lifetime’s filling of His Spirit for me to see and believe just how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ for me. Surprise!!

Perhaps this is what the late Steve Jobs saw on his deathbed as he uttered his last recorded words: “Oh Wow. Oh Wow. Oh Wow.” Can you imagine what would make an inventor, creator, and visionary like Jobs say that? Yeah, me neither. Guess we’ll just have to wait.

God’s up to something

Calm, peaceful, still, ever.

How can anyone tire of this view?
That goes on forever,
Forgives all
Welcomes all
Receives all.

You are there.
Out my bedroom window
My backyard,
My puppies’ playground,
Sheltered and safe.

***

Wait! What was that?

Who do you think you are,
Forcing your way in like that?
Painting my hallway
reds and yellows,
oranges and purples.

Can’t you see I’m resting here?

Well, maybe one little peek,
Just a crack in the door
To see who’s calling.
That’s polite, isn’t it.

Oh my, look at you!

Won’t you come in?
Have some coffee.
Sit and chat a bit,
Tell me what you see
From there.

where’d you go?

I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? ~ Isaiah 43:19

Smell those petunias!

So, inspired by the beauty of Lake Junaluska, I determined to sample some beauty each day. To intentionally go out of my way to beautify a bit. But, creature of habit that I am, I didn’t dash off to the  nearby nature trail, I ran the same route today that I have been running for years.

Took my camera along, just in case some beauty happened by. I got all the way home, and there were the petunias, lovingly planted by my husband in a pot atop our mailbox. Aha! Beauty. I’ll take a picture.

I bent close and then closer. Close didn’t make them any more lovely. So I stuck my nose in the middle of one and inhaled its perfume. And then I saw the small caterpillar, inching his way up the pot. Perfectly inclined to make the journey.

Now (s)he was beautiful!

Sometimes you see it. Sometimes you have to smell it first.