E-Letters

This e-letter is written by our friend, Susan Shane. It has been our privilege many evenings to have her at our dining room table where her resplendent wit and wisdom have cheered and nourished me and my wife on our journey. Dana and I are taking this opportunity to share her with you. You can respond to Susan at sjshane@mindspring.com

Jeff

Do You Want to Get It Right?

By Susan Shane
Jan 06, 2010

I had a dream a few weeks ago. I arrived at this place and found out I was the speaker. I was in no way prepared, so what to do? I decided I'd say what God had been speaking to me. I asked the people sitting there, "How many of you think you have to get it right?" Slowly every hand was raised, including mine. "You know you really don't have to get it right. Jesus told us, "Come to me, you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am humble and gentle of heart, and I will give you rest for your souls."

Everybody got up out of their seats and moved around the room talking with each other, reconciling, because if they didn't have to get it right, the pressure was off--they could just be friends. I was standing there surprised when someone in charge walked up to me, "You did a good job. You got them all out of their seats." I was about to say that hadn't been my intention; I was as surprised as he. But he wasn't finished. He went on to say, "You know, what you said was nice, but it isn't theologically correct." My heart started to plummet because once again I hadn't got it right, and this time I had messed up in front of a whole bunch of people, and I had misrepresented God! As my heart sank, it was suddenly caught, held steady and sure by Truth and Love Himself. I lifted my head, looked the man in the eye, and said, "No, it is theologically correct. He's the one who said to us, "Come to me you who are heavily burdened . . ." And I woke up.

Okay, so that was a dream, but did it speak truth? Before we get into that, do you think you have to get it right? Really, do you?

I have always thought I was to get it right. Do it right. I wasn't supposed to mess it up. Whatever "it" was, I was to get it right, every time, every day. If I messed something up once, "Well, by golly, get it right the next time and keep it that way." I can't tell you how much energy I have wasted striving for perfection.

The good news is the dream did speak truth. The startling fact that we don't have to get it right is splashed in glowing colors all across the New Testament.

For starters, let's look at the verses (Matthew 11:28-30) in my dream, and I paraphrase, "Come to me. I, who am humble and gentle, will teach you, giving you soul-rest." It is not restful to strive to get it right in our own strength and by our own lights. Half the time, do we know what "getting it right" even looks like? Jesus always knows in each particular situation for each one of us. (Although, sometimes it doesn't appear He got it right, not the least little bit.)

Release and let go. Give it to Him. Let Him get it right--purely, perfectly right.

In Romans 8:1 we find, "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." What better news do we need than that?

I love this one: "Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must abide in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me." John 15:4

"Abide" is a beautiful word. It speaks of restfulness, settledness, quiet. "To abide" is an act of being, not doing. It is not about achieving something; it is about living in what we already have, Whom and what we have already been given.

How do we abide? There are ample ways to abide, all of them wonderful. My current favorite is to pray, "Abba, love me in all the ways I need to be loved. Heal me wherever I need healing. Open my eyes, my ears, my heart, my mind, my soul to You and Your love. Flow Your love through me today everywhere I go to everyone I meet." As I re-read this, I realize I am doing nothing--I am simply a branch on the vine letting the grapevine do all the work. How can I mess up if I'm not doing anything in the first place? Do you know we don't even need to get abiding right? We just turn to our humble, gentle teacher and ask Him to help us to abide. The Gospel is outrageously good news. I think that is why we rarely believe it. It seems too good to be true. Ha! Let's be foolish enough to believe it. Fools for Christ. One for all and all for One!

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 24-25