Incarnate Journey

This is the incarnate journey.

A couple months ago my cousin, Dan, one of the smartest pastors I know (and I know A LOT of pastors) was talking to me about the one we love's (Jesus') greatest gift. A friend of mine was going through a tough grieving process and I was explaining to Dan how there was nothing I could do but sit with her. I felt so powerless to help her through one of her most life-shaking experiences. He immediately responded by explaining the gift of Jesus being 'incarnate' or in the flesh.

"He chose not to fix us, Ang." the words slipped out easily enough but, hit the ground floor of my soul. "He chose to join us."

He explained that the one we love (Jesus) came down and dwelt among us joining us in our suffering and in our joy. Joining us before our big decisions and after. Joining us both at weddings and at funerals. The most powerful thing I could do for my friend in that moment wasn't to fix her. No matter how many times I sang the Coldplay song. Nothing was going to 'fix' the pain that was tearing through her being in that moment. But one thing was going to comfort her, i could sit. i could hug her. i could just be there. be fully present. be incarnate.

So, for the first time in my life I don't have a job. You'd think that it would fill me with glee. You'd think that it would be like vacation. it's not.

I'm up early, job hunting, resume writing, calling, applying online, guessing, worrying, working. Making sure I am not taking advantage of the incredible kindness that my friends are extending. I have incredible faith combined with incredible panic. Then I remember that the one we love called me out of an incredibly busy life to slow down and be with Him. To write about Him, to learn incredible things about Him so that I could reveal His nature to a whole set of people who would otherwise never know. He's called me out to slow me down and I'm speeding up.

In Genesis the one we love created a place for man to just 'be' with Him. That was the entirety of his original plan. In the same way the Cross created a place for us to just 'be' with him. And that has to be my imperative. Everything else is ultimately proven foolish. I have to get back to the garden.

So today I decided that I am going to change my filter. I am now on an incarnate journey. A process of learning to live fully present with the one we love and the ones HE loves. I am going to be incarnate. I am going to join others, not race others. I am going to love others. Give Life. Worry less. Learn. Explore. Grow. be on an incarnate journey.