Say Yes – part 2 – “Walk in the Yes!”

I am still thinking about a quote by Henri Nouwen in his book Road to Daybreak. I wanted to talk more about this idea of “saying Yes!” If you recall, Nouwen wrote that – “Christmas is saying ‘yes’ to a hope based on God’s initiative, which has nothing to do with what I think or feel” (105). This hope has all to do with Jesus and what he did on our behalf.

Jesus “entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all . . . . Absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” Romans 8:1-3, 39

Many of you resonated with Nouwen’s words, Father God’s story and perhaps some of my pictures. We have accepted his saving power and are grateful for this gift. We acknowledge our need and his answer. But how does that translate into the details of our day to day? What does it look like at 8:45 am when I have already told Maya, Ada and Carson to brush their teeth and get their shoes on and I still hear them in the other room jamming to the High School Musical 3 CD? How do I walk in the “yes” when no one is saying yes to me?

I would love to hear: “Yes, Mommy, I will get right to it. Yes, Mommy, I think that is a great idea to wear a coat, and I love the one you have picked out for me. Yes, Karla, it is no problem that you are late on that bill. I won’t charge you a late fee, and you just get it in the mail as soon as you can. Yes, Karla, thanks so much for your friendship and even though you never call me back, I don’t mind. Yes, Karla, I think leftover ham from Christmas dinner is a great idea for our meal tonight.” ETC! How does the truth of Jesus penetrate this “disordered mess”? I believe that Father God is interested in what happens at 8:45 am, and he wants his story to penetrate our details. He is already there on the other side of the “Yes” waiting for our eyes, our focus and attention right in the middle of the chaos.

By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us – set us right with him, make us fit for him – we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all; We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand – out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.” Romans 5:1-2

At 8:45 am, I “will cry out and lift my eyes to the Maker of the mountains, the Calmer of the oceans and the Healer of the hurt” in the words of the great poet and singer Bebo Norman (Between the Waking and the Dreaming http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te0hy2YcLgg -).

Brother Lawrence, a cook in a French monastery in 1642, says it another way: “I abandon myself in His hands, that he may do what He pleases with me. This King, full of mercy and goodness, very far from chastising me, embraces me with love, makes me eat at His table, serves me with His own hands, gives me the key of His treasures; He converses and delights Himself with me incessantly, in a thousand and a thousand ways, and treats me in all respects as His favorite.” in Practicing the Presence of God

There is lots more to talk about, but for now, let’s just focus on this first step. At 8:45 am, in the midst of your details, “open your door to him, cry out and lift your eyes to him, abandon yourself in his hands.” He is already there – loving you!