When you read a book, do you read it from cover to cover?

Or, do you start to read it and then come across something you don’t particularly agree with… and put it down?

Or perhaps you never read it at all, because you heard somewhere that it has some “questionable parts?”

Neither approach is ultimately right or wrong, except when it comes to reading… biographies.

How do you read people?

Perhaps you never read them at all, because you heard somewhere that they have some “questionable parts.”

Or perhaps you do start to read them, but then come across something you don’t particularly agree with… and put them down… literally.

Or perhaps, you read them from cover to cover, investing a little, discovering their story, from their past to their present.  Yes, there may be some questionable chapters, but one chapter doth not make the whole story.  In fact, one bad chapter often sets the stage for marvelous discoveries in the next.

Oh, that we were known as people who carefully read one another’s pages, even choosing to be written into another’s story by the Author we have in common.

I’m reading this book called, “Captivating: Unveiling The Mystery of a Woman’s Soul.”

Yes, yes, I know: “Why would you possibly be reading that book, Matt? You are a gem of a fool when it comes to topics such as that, so perhaps the reading would be educational… but you are also committed to healing and singleness and full-on friendships and building anew on that now firm foundation of your life and, and, and, … so why do you care about unveiling some poor woman’s soul?”

Well, the book came from Michele with the intent of helping me understand my daughter so I can better be her father.

So there.

And with that goal, I began reading the pages of said publication on one post-Christmas morn.

In short order, I learned:

Every woman longs for three things: to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure, and to unveil beauty. That’s what makes a woman come alive.
“I simply love feeling beautiful, wanted and fought for.”

When we (women) are young, we want to be precious to someone — especially Daddy. As we grow older, the desire matures into a longing to be pursued, desired, wanted as a woman.

Alrighty, so I’m tracking along nicely thus far, of course having already known all of the above… and with a stellar resume to prove my proficiency…

And then (and this is where I change the topic), the author’s deliver a quick one, two punch:

1. God created man and woman in His image.
2. Woman is created last. She is the crescendo, the final astonishing work of God. The Master’s finishing touch. His piece de resistance.

Alrighty, so I’m cool with that. I get it. Adam ain’t got no game. And I for sure know that the estrogen-based life forms are real pieces of work… (oops, I digress…)

With one sentence, all of the above (not including my stupid commentary), came to a jaw dropping conclusion: “God wanted to reveal something about himself, so he gave us Eve.”

Read it again.

“God wanted to reveal something about himself, so he gave us Eve.”

Could it be that God wants to be pursued like a woman does?
Could it be that he wants to be loved like a woman does?
Could it be that he wants to be desired like a woman does?
Fought for, thought of as stunningly beautiful, cherished, …

Could be.
They are made in His image.

We smile and nod our heads.
Occasionally we say, “Hello.”
We stop and talk over the top of picket fences.
“How are you all doing?”
“Good. How about y’all?”

Sound bites of sentences
Pieced together over months
Combining to make up a conversation.

“We really need to have you over to dinner.”
“We would love to. Give us a call.”

One day a sign shows up in your yard.
The next month you’re gone.
We didn’t even get to say, “Bye.”
(Stephen James)

“… and love your neighbor…”
(Jesus)

“… before they’re gone.”
(Matt)

“The thought of life in heaven is nice, but can you help me with life today?”

“You speak of Christmas and Easter, but can you tell me what to do with those months in between?”

“Where does all of that intersect with all of this?” he persists, motioning towards his tattered jeans and a worn backpack that contained, with room to spare, all of his life’s possessions.

“Is the purpose of Christianity only about being able to go to heaven when we die?”

I understood. And thus began the real conversation.

The other day, we were sitting at a stop light across from one of the biggest churches in Austin. They had one of those cool signs out front that scrolls stuff in bright red letters. In huge letters, it said, “Happy Birthday.” I waited in anticipation of what I thought was to come. Then it said, “Bill.”

Happy Birthday Bill.

Is that His middle name?

I have this spot in my back yard where nothing will grow. It’s only a one foot square at best, but it’s insanely annoying. I water. I fertilize. I loosen the soil. I get miffed at the mere thought of rounding the corner and seeing it there. Grass grows. Flowers grow. The oak tree I planted just two feet away grows. But not even a weed will grow on this spot.

So I took a shovel to it and dug it up.

And you know what I found? A hub cap. A freaking hub cap… from a car… Late ’70s Dodge… maybe a Chrysler… a station wagon, I think.

What is a hub cap doing in my back yard? This is a sub-division, not a car lot.

I can’t believe it.

And worse yet, as I rounded the corner this afternoon, I saw another spot over by the fence. It’s only a one foot square at best…

(I’m gonna water it and see if a new car sprouts forth from yonder dead spot. Should I use regular, diesel, …or maybe that ethanol stuff would be better? I mean, I want to be friendly to the environment… like the yo that left his hub cap in my yard…)

I did something radically new (for me) in 2008: I quit living in the rearview mirror. It was tres dificil at first — my eyes would often wonder to 2001, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. But all that did was wreck my ride in 2008. The day would collide with regret, get crunched in remorse, and even depression. But then I learned. Life is not meant to be lived in the past. I made a fearless moral inventory of those days. I made amends with those days, the people, and myself. Then, I buckled up, faced forward, and drove hard in late ’07 and all of ’08, always looking through the windshield of each of those days. I haven’t arrived anywhere in particular yet, but many mile markers have been passed and new destinations are in sight. Destiny is envisioned… with progressive clarity each step of the way. The journey is magnificent.

I wouldn’t wish the junk of my previous years on anyone. But if I could, I would give the peace of 2008 away. And I can.

Peace.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

(The Serenity Prayer, by Reinhold Niebuhr, portions adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous)

“Can I ask one more question?” Roary’s boldness tonight was way out of character. John turned and nodded… “Do you really believe we’re good enough to hear God’s voice every day?”

“What a question!” John laughed as he stood up. “Of course not, Roary. None of us are that good. But I think you’re asking the wrong question. Let’s phrase it like this: Is Jesus big enough to get through to you
every day? Do you think he is big enough to get past your blind spots, overcome your doubts and show you his way? Doesn’t that get a resounding ‘yes’? Share that journey together and you’ll experience body life more real than you’ve ever dreamed.”

(from “So You Don’t Want to Go To Church Anymore” by Jake Colsen)

“Walk carefully because I have opened up my life to you and you are treading on my dreams” (W.B. Yeats).

I knew a lot about you… but then I began to walk beside you… and that changed everything.  The facts I thought I knew were really rather irrelevant to the newfound relationship.  You were who I knew but yet had never imagined.  You and me became we… and it is joyous.  

< Decoded: >

I’m reading a book by Jake Colsen called, “So You Don’t Want To Go To Church Anymore.”  The title caught my eye a week or so ago because… I don’t really want to go to church anymore.  Then, Annee, in a totally unrelated way, suggested the book to me, so I figured God was trying to get through my dense skull.  Then, just to ice the cake, I found the book online… for free… in pdf.  Anyhow, to make a long post even longer, the concept of knowledge about God verses a relationship with God was pitched in the book.  In a conversation amongst the main characters, one of them said,

“We teach the kids (in church) about God and the Bible, and how to be good Christians… but this is not the same as learning to walk with him.”

Shoot, I have a Masters degree in God stuff.  I can bust a biblical move in Greek, go to town about the missionary journeys of Paul, talk theologically until my TULIPs fall off, or whatever… BUT SO WHAT.  None of that matters.  None of it matters if there is no relationship, and even more, none of it matters COMPARED to the relationship.

I know a lot about President Bush, but I bet it would be a whole other kick in the pants to actually be his friend… and sit on the back porch… drinking tea… talking shop… laughing… going deep… crying… caring… making up goofy words… 
Insert whoever you want there.  You know some stuff about them, but wouldn’t it just be trippin’ cool to actually be their good friend?  Right?

Now, apply that to God.  

Skip the facts.  Go for the relationship.

< End Decoding >