How Do You Fly?
By: Susan Deborah Schiller
“The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money.” ~ Author unknown
I flew the coop. I broke up with "normal" and I'll never go back. I will not play the Game anymore.
I once asked, "This ocean of freedom is so vast and wide, so deep and unpredictable. I'm so used to leaders telling me what to do, what to believe, and the lines were sharply drawn between right and wrong. Now I must think for myself and it's scary. I've never done this before. What if I make a mistake? Like, a really big mistake? What if I hurt the people who are following me?"
My mentor grinned and said, "I know. You've never flown outside the cage before. It is scary and you're in for the ride of your life!"
Today, a friend asks me the same questions I once asked. She's bravely sailing into this ocean of no limits, too. I still don't have all the answers. It wouldn't be much of an adventure if everything was all thought out for us and written down in detail. An encyclopedia of books would never cover all the possibilities.
Another person came to Jesus with a similar question, and he told another story… of a man who strove, worked hard, and amassed a great fortune. He built bigger and bigger barns to hoard this fortune. He was proud of all he accomplished and the world thought him wise, frugal, and fortunate, indeed. Jesus warned that in a single instant of time his barns could burn and he would be left penniless or he could have a heart attack and die that day. And so it came to pass.
Do you think Jesus wanted him to break up with normal and live a more trusting life?
A young ruler approached Jesus, sincerely interested in his message, but Jesus told him that to follow him he should give all his riches to the poor… for that was the "one thing" in the way of complete trust.
Is there a "one thing" in my own way of total trust?
A woman was once worried about her bills – food, clothes, and housing. And he pointed to the meadow, and invited her to consider the flowers… and how they were clothed finer than kings, and yet they didn't worry, strive, or work hard to provide for themselves.
So I get down on the level of a child, which is the only way to see the Kingdom of Heaven's reality, in this world. And I look at the trees, the birds, and the sky.
How does a robin know when to fly North? How do they find the same back yard each year?
How do the Cherry trees know when it's safe to unfurl their leaves and unveil all the delicate blossoms?
I recall a story a forest ranger once told. I call it "The Robin Beats a Snake".
More than 100 feet off the ground, on a watch tower deep in the forest, a mother and father robin had hidden their nest. As they took turns worm-hunting and feeding their sqawking crew, they flew in seeming haphazard patterns, always seeking to trick any watching predators from discovering the location of their nest.
Each day a snake lay hidden in the brush and watched Mr. and Mrs. Robin fly back and forth with its beady eyes. One day it decided it had enough information and made his move. He slithered to the watch tower and wrapped its scaly body around the poles and began its ascent.
"Egg-stealer!" screeched the Mr. Robin. He dive-bombed and pecked and pecked at the snake until it fell to the ground and slithered away.
True story.
When you first leave a cult, even what seems a "good, evangelical or charismatic church," one of the first words you may hear, are "You're no longer under our covering. Now what will you do? You won't be safe out there in the world, without our covering!"
I've heard those words, and more. What would Jesus say?
Maybe he would say, "Look beyond the scary things and really see what you need to see."
How does a robin know when to fly North? How do they know a predator is lurking nearby?
How do they know just the right time to let go of their cozy nest and head South?
How do they trust that Summer follows Spring?
Maybe they just trust … and give themselves permission to try new things.
So I say to myself: "Give yourself permission to let go, to be vulnerable, and to risk doing something different!"
I'm learning: It's a new season, just up ahead. It's time for change. But don't be afraid. Let go. Don't struggle and strive. What you need is already prepared for you. Step into the new season with a heart free and light. You are backed by Heaven and covered in the glory of God. You are a child of God. You have an onboard GPS guidance system. Live in the intentionality of God. Permission is granted to fully explore your freedom, to make mistakes, and to grow!
What lessons are you discovering today, as you learn to sail, to fly, to soar?
Living the adventure and choosing love today,
Sue
PS Maybe God wants to give us our wings one idea at a time. "Nobody runs out of money; they run out of ideas and willingness to do what it takes." — Sharon O'Day
Susan Schiller knows how it feels to lose everything: marriage and family, church and reputation, finances and businesses, and more. Susan's upcoming, interactive memoir, "On the Way Home," tells the story of how she came to be known as "the most abused woman" her counselors had yet met and how she learned to navigate her way out of hell to a rich and satisfying life. In her lifetime, Susan has served in duties ranging from home school mom – to pastor – to full-time deliverance minister – and to Midwest regional prayer coordinator for a large international ministry. These days you can usually find Susan soaking in her favorite hot springs pool, reading a book (or several), blogging, baking bread, or hanging out with her family and friends. You can get a free copy of Susan's upcoming book, "On the Way Home" by registering here.
Copyright 2010-2014, Susan Schiller, http://TeamFamilyOnline.com. For reprint permission for any private or commercial use, in any form of media, please contact Susan Schiller.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
🙂 🙂 🙂 Such happiness in just being!
So true, Joyce… and you are shining! 🙂