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I Am Certain

13 August 2005, 3 pm | Faith

I know the following beautiful but frightening words written by Paula D’Arcy to be true in my head, but I am trying to learn them in my heart. I know that I have partially learned them, but my analytical side wants, but cannot give, a percentage. The percentage does not really matter anyway.

  • I am certain everything is gift.

  • I am certain we are entitled to nothing.

  • I am certain the wells for pain and joy are not separate.

  • I am certain bitterness and healing are a choice.

  • I am certain that running from your darkness leads to greater darkness.

  • I am certain the darkness is held ultimately by light.

  • I am certain that the words from scripture “In Him we live and move and have our being” are not poetic; they are actual physical reality.

The only way to learn these truths seems to be experiential. That seems to be the only way to circumvent the false dualism of the mind and body, to have it all contained together within the heart. And the only way to have that experience is through pain, foundation-shaking pain down to its core. In effect, it is to have your heart broken, to crack its hardness and egocentric ways, and let God’s grace enter.

Genuine grace is scary because it means change.

Comments

  1. I think, that in this case, as hard as it may be, the change will be worth it. Though, it’s really tempting to just run and hide and say forget it.

    ∼ πλ · 14 August 2005, 2 pm · by Crystal ¬

  2. Great entry, Mark. I once asked God where “in the world” was His delivery and heard that still, small voice speak back to me: “But, Jim, My grace IS my deliverance.” I spoke with a pastor or two who thought my “voice” merely that, and so I stored the incident in my heart. Down the road, however, I was led to Proverbs 16:6 whch, to me, anyhow, says pretty much the same thing. Trouble is: we have taken such vocabulary and reduced it to definitions that allow us to build our own credo. When “grace” and “faith” and other such terms are seen as elements of Who He is, and we recognize them as Christ “in me”, salvation takes on quite a different appearance in our life. If “grace” abides, then it ought to flow from me as well…………

    ∼ πλ · 15 August 2005, 9 pm · by Jim ¬

  3. I stumbled on your blog while shopping for extra copies on Hind’s Feet to give as gifts for my sunday school class. I have to confess I am truly refreshed to see such like-mindedness in someone of a denomination which I have long approached somewhat warily. I attend a non-denominational church, and the snare of that is still pride in one’s non-denominationalism! How absurd. But you have renewed my respect and knowledge that Christ is the head of the church, after all and above all. We do indeed live and move in Him. We have only one Lord and Savior. I look forward to browsing more of you posts. I also have a blog, ionajewel.blogspot.com, if you care to visit.

    ∼ πλ · 19 August 2005, 7 am · by Precious ¬

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