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INTRODUCTION
When I first started writing this book three years ago, I titled it, Confessions of a Scatterbrained Christian (who's just trying to make a difference in the world). In many ways, that still describes me. I am still all over the place – and with the rise of such technological advancements as smart phones, Facebook and Twitter, perhaps even more so than I was back then.
I am also
preoccupied with making a difference. Making my life count. As you
will see through the course of these pages, that desire has been
transformed and shaped over the years. And thankfully, it is still
being re-shaped (less of me, more of Him!); however, it's still very
much present. My husband can attest to this. He is the one who must
deal with my monthly, sometimes weekly, rants as I wonder aloud if
I'm doing what I'm supposed to, how I'm supposed to, where I'm
supposed to and why I'm supposed to. Or if there's something more for
me to do out there that I haven't quite put my finger on. Yet.
The “confessions”
part of the original title conveyed my desire to be as open and
honest as I can be, not holding back or sugar-coating things. That
includes sharing ideas and thoughts that you may not like. Heck, that
I may not even like. Why? Because honesty with ourselves and others
is the only path to true relationship. And true transformation.
I
started writing this book at a difficult time in my life, a time of
indecision and uncertainty. Much of that stemmed from wondering if
the vision I had for my storytelling company would ever come to
fruition or if all of my time, energy and passion were wasted. There
was so much of myself wrapped up in that endeavor, that to not see it
thriving made me feel like a failure as a person. It was a time when
I realized how much I relied upon accomplishments to measure my
self-worth, even though I knew this defied every tenet of my faith,
which teaches that my worth comes from Who loves me, not what I do.
It was a time in my life when I had every reason to be happy, but for
some reason, couldn't will myself to be so.
However,
shortly after completing the first draft of this book, my life and
professional endeavors seemed to find wings and soar. In fact, the
rest of that year would read like a laundry-list of major
professional accomplishments for me. And the following years just
added to it. I didn't have time to think about editing Confessions
of a Scatterbrained Christian. I
was too busy.
And then one day
recently, I came across the half-forgotten manuscript while searching
my computer for another document. Out of curiosity, I clicked on it,
and to my surprise, 259 pages popped up to greet me! As I read
through them, I could still see myself in the collection of stories
and vignettes. But even in the simplest of stories, there was a much
more central character. Someone who has been a part of every one of
my high and lows, ups and downs, experiences and undertakings,
thoughts and feelings. Someone who gets me even when I don't get
myself (which is most of the time!) That someone is Jesus Christ.
Jesus and his story
are constantly intersecting my own. Sometimes, this occurs in tiny,
seemingly insignificant, ways. Other times it's so monumental that I
expect to feel the earth shaking below my feet.
The word
'intersect' is defined as:
- to cut across or through
- to cut across or overlap
- to have one or more points in common
As a storyteller,
one of my favorite stories is that of the birth of Jesus. If this
does not describe an awesome intersection then I don't know what
does! Jesus cut across the division of heaven and earth. In himself,
he made the human and divine overlap. He became like his creation,
having much in common with them, and in doing so, showed his creation
how they could be more like him.
And I don't believe
he's done doing that. I believe that he's still intersecting the
world every chance he gets. And if that is true, then my story and
God's story are not two distinct tales. Instead, his great epic
collides with my simple story and creates an intersection – a place
where amazing things can happen, both big and small.
And
so I invite you through the pages of this book and my experiences
shared here to reflect upon the thousands of little ways that God's
story is intersecting your own on a daily basis. This may require
slowing down. It may require keeping a journal. It may mean learning
to pay attention or to watch and wait with expectancy. It may mean
something entirely different at different seasons of your life. But
my prayer is that you won't miss it. Because an intersection is the
place of greatest possibility.
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