This time many more followed, and her eyes were fast becoming fountains, when all at once a verse she had heard the Sunday before at church seemed to come of itself into her head: "Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will answer thee." It must mean that she was to ask God to help her: was that the same as saying prayers? But she wasn't good, and he wouldn't hear anybody that wasn't good. Then, if he was only the God of the good people, what was to become of the rest when they were lost on mountains? She had better try; it could not do much harm. Even if he would not hear her, he would not surely be angry with her for calling upon him when she was in such trouble. So thinking, she began to pray to what dim distorted reflection of God there was in her mind. They alone pray to the real God, the maker of the heart that prays, who know his son Jesus. If our prayers were heard only in accordance with the idea of God to which we seem to ourselves to pray, how miserably would our infinite wants be met! But every honest cry, even if sent into the deaf ear of an idol, passes on to the ears of the unknown God, the heart of the unknown Father.
- From Sir Gibbie by George MacDonald
The above excerpt is from a poet and minister who is also the father of fantasy. He mentored Lewis Carroll and thereby helped bring Alice to the world, and his writings influenced C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, E. Nesbit and Madeleine L'Engle, among others. He is sadly, though, less well known than those he influenced and far underread. Many who claim to be fans of the genre of fantasy literature have never heard of him, much less read him, which saddens me. I am a fan of MacDonald's, but it is not by some great literary elitism that I know of him. It is by grace, meaning, that like my knowledge of God, it became personal only after being presented by another.
A woman named Katha has been a far greater influence on my life and my beliefs than she may realize. She befriended a young teen in the 80's and changed me in ways that a whole congregation of Sunday school teachers, well meaning worriers and bullying busy bodies failed. She cared and planted seeds that didn't immediately rise up and take over, allowing her to see the results, but grew slow deep roots that, once the tree pushed through the soil stretching for the Son and began to bloom, could never be pulled up. One of these seeds was a gift of books. One afternoon she handed me The Lord of the Rings collection and The Complete Fairy Tales of George MacDonald.
MacDonald was the more difficult of the two to read, as his 1800's Scottish English writing made me have to think to understand what I read, but I loved the stories. It was like reading the Bible, only fun. In the midst of his tales were truths, like the one above, that sank deep in the soil of my soul and waited for the drought to end and the water of the Spirit to bring them to life. Years later I would learn that MacDonald also wrote apologetics. The man had been dealing with some of the tough questions and the doubts in my soul for years though with little seeds scattered in stories.
Many may never hear of him. Few, if any, who have ever read him before will do so after reading this. But many have enjoyed literature and film that can trace its genealogy directly back to this Scottish starting point. A woman cared enough about me to present with kindness some books she thought I might enjoy. She didn't tell me I should read them, and she especially did not say that I must read them. This was during the birth of The Great Rebellion in my life, and the books would most likely have never been read had she come to me with them as something that should or must be read.
I didn't feel many people's care for me during that period. I felt many people cared what I did. Many more cared about how what I did and said reflected upon my parents, my church and by extension them. But few were able to make me suspect, much less believe, at that point that they cared for me. Katha did, and because of that I met an author who has influenced and entertained thousands through fantasy.
This is the secret of evangelism and the perfect 12th Step. The goal is to spread the love. The desire is to display the solution. Once we have awoken we care for those who are still asleep. It's not about being famous. It's not about being a household name, looking good or even in always seeing the fruit of the seeds. MacDonald quietly influenced a few while the masses largely ignored him, but those few went on to change the face of literature and create something new and beloved. He also showed writers like Lewis and Tolkien how to show the truths of God without getting preachy. Many who have never been inside a church have seen Aslan on the big screen sacrificing himself as an example of Christ.
But one person, just honestly caring, introduced me to the world of fantasy literature and exposed me to the God of MacDonald's fairy tales and that Christ Aslan represents and the Lord of Tolkien. Oh, I already knew the God. But during a time when I couldn't accept or hear much about Him, when I thought no one cared, someone got through. The introduction to MacDonald led me to remember that part of the story I quoted this morning when I was afraid to pray, when I didn't feel I deserved God to hear my cry.
From behind prison walls I searched for a God I was no longer sure existed. I believed in God, always had and always would, but the god of my understanding wasn't quite right. Because the God of love that cared for me was not the god I had seen and heard about through the filter of my pain and perceptions. What good would it be to pray if I didn't have it right? If the image of God that I had in my heart and mind was incorrect would He even hear my misdirected plea? Then I remembered a story I read with that one little seed of truth that was beginning to bud, every honest cry, even if sent into the deaf ear of an idol, passes on to the ears of the unknown God, the heart of the unknown Father. My search for significance and a God who cared began to be successful when I honestly cried out with just a little hope that even if I didn't understand Him correctly He would hear me. That hope came from a story planted in my mind 20 years before, but one that bloomed in the memory when God's perfect timing called it to life.
It took a few years for the fruit to fully form. I had to get out that pit, and find another piece of the path, finding the first steps of freedom from the alcohol and drugs, before I could release the anger that blocked me from fully walking in the fruit of God's love I found in prison. But I had thought the beginning was The Search For Significance in my 30s. Last night, in yet another stupid prison dream I relived that desperate moment of daring to hope God might actually love me and of crying out as honestly as I could believing, because of a fairy tale I read as a teen, that God would hear.
Today let us remember that it's not always about making the best informed, most correct or even the flashiest, most entertaining presentation of truth. One person in one moment of genuine caring may plant the seed that blooms when the weeds have destroyed and damaged the seeds of others more "qualified" or more renowned. Jesus' greatest influence on the people of Galilee wasn't the teaching or the healings. His greatest gift and influence was His love. Children flocked to Him because of it. People dared to dream and hope for a touch from God because of it. Today let us remember that to love someone with the love that set us free is far more important than giving them information, forcing them to understand what they need to do or making a presentation of the gospel that would make Billy Graham proud. Just love someone who still suffers.
Lord, fill us with Your compassion and Your Spirit of genuine care and concern for others rather than the righteous demands of religion. Help us to remember that the one in bondage doesn't need to be told they need to get free nearly as much as they need to see in action the love that sets us free. The true and effective 12th Step is not a presentation of truth or facts or philosophy but an act of love and the hope of a God that hears even when we do not know the truth of who He is.
Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.
If you would like to have notifications of new Unshackled Moments and messages sent to you via email, send an email to dalynwoodard@mail.com requesting to be added to the list. You can also follow Dalyn Woodard (@Dalynsmsings) on Twitter or Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment