In this week’s message, I offer up three perspectives as well as some lessons learned along the way. These perspectives will be covered shortly, but for now, let’s talk about storms.
When it comes to storms, in life there are many. It’s tough in the storm. It’s scary, uncomfortable, confusing, even debilitating at times and there’s typically no visible reprieve in sight. The light...what light? We don’t know what comes next. However even in the storm, we find moments of familiarity. Where we stumble, is in the things we’ve taught or conditioned ourselves to neglect that still show up in the storm, thus a common feeling of imprisonment.
Where can you find peace, even in the storm? THE EYE OF THE STORM. The eerie calm. Presence in spite of the storm with no way out but through the gnarly. The moment in which the storm is clearly articulated and the familiarities and necessity of change are upon us.
NOW: Rewind and fast forward.
3 perspectives or vantage points: (promised from earlier)
In the storm (pandemic and now application)
In the storm (pre-pandemic, not the same but with some of the same bugaboos)
In the storm (post-pandemic, the certainty of uncertainty)
All three storms have familiarities and known entities within them. What we navigate today, we have storms to reference from the past and an assurance that storms are on a time horizon yet to be determined.
One of my all time favorite quotes is from John H. Groberg, regarding the storms in our lives. He said this: “Sometimes the Lord calms the storm, and sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child. We learn lessons from storms we cannot learn from calm seas."
Storms vary in their season, definition and timeline.
Today’s buzzwords: “unprecedented” (never done or known before) + “pandemic” (synonym and root: common affliction)
The STORM is dissonance, and the PLAGUE is a short-term memory.
In Mark 4:40 Jesus said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?
Found in my friend Joaby Parker’s lyrics from a song he co-wrote, Let It Rain:
“Let it rain. Let the lightning strike. And the memories of YOU (our savior), light up the night. Let it rain. Let the tears I’VE (both you and your savior) cried drown all this pain, and MY (your) foolish pride.
The calm will come, but for so many, right now it’s not. The storm must rage in and around us.
One of my mentors, Jeff Wilmore, recently wrote: “It’s uncomfortable for the brain to be with so much cognitive dissonance. That’s why we avoid it. In these days, and this time, there sure is a lot to be uncomfortable about, yes? ... I recommend embracing it. Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
On this Easter Sunday I’m reminded and strengthened by my own testimony of The Great Physician who has already written the prescription for the storms I’ve faced and will face in my life: Christ on this day has risen. He has risen above all we will struggle with and have yet to endure. His perfect example taught us how to love, how to serve, and how to endure.
Even in the storm, we can find peace as we love, serve, and remember.
The “perfect” storm is one where it ALL aligns, all of the good, the bad and the ugly, where the beautiful gift of upheaval becomes the teacher for an incredibly humble student.
My hope for each of you; is that this next week FINDS YOU.
Remember that growth is always a choice!
Until next time my friends, make it a great one, and remember to always…HONOR.THE.GIFT.
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