This Story is Messing Me Up

I am on my third go around reading Pursuing Justice by Ken Wytsma.  It’s an incredible book and one you need to put on your reading list before 2013 comes to a close. Ken talks about a friend of his named Erin and how she is living an example of how the best way to find happiness isn’t to chase it…it’s to give your life away to others.

This is why I love Erin’s story.  Erin is smart, articulate, and energetic, and for ten years she worked for high-end golf resorts.

Cough…cough!!

Yep…me too Erin.  Maybe not a resort but a private Country Club.

Ken goes on to talk about Erin was living the American Dream: a promising career, growing paychecks, and the time and money to chase her favorite sports and hobbies. She was comfortable and safe.

Cough…cough!!

Yep…me to Erin.

The story goes on about Erin getting involved in her church and how she was asked to come on staff in the intern program they had there as a full-time job mentoring college students. No benefits and no pay.

Ken then talks about Erin hearing a sermon about faith – about how we don’t really need faith and can’t understand it until we literally have no idea what’s supposed to happen next.

She became convinced God was asking her something: Are you willing to walk away from the American Dream and live My dream instead? Are you willing to live by faith?

The next day she resigned from her job.

Cough…cough.

Ok, I’m not young and single.  In fact you know I’ll be turning 40 in a couple of weeks.  My husband and I have been beautifully married for 15 years and have 4 teenagers (we truly are God’s favorite because He has shown us His sense of humor giving us these kiddos!). So many of you know we will be facing cars, car insurance, college tuitions, etc. and like Erin, I’m comfortable and safe.  Comfortable and safe knowing between Jose and I we got it covered.

Wait did I say we got it covered?

It seems I forgot the most important part…Jesus.

We can’t do anything without Him!

See Erin, I went back to work almost 3 years ago now because of this.  It just plain stunk and I don’t want to go back there.  But I can’t help feel as though I got in the way.  That I “cut short” the process God had us walking through.  That the business we have, is and always has been God’s business and that I need to resume back to trusting Him and not trusting a paycheck.

Ken you messed me up when you wrote:

About Erin hearing a sermon about faith – about how we don’t really need faith and can’t understand it until we literally have no idea what’s supposed to happen next.

That statement right there brings a smile to my face.  We all need to have that kind of faith. That we literally don’t know what’s going to happen next but we can rest in knowing that God is in control.  That nothing is impossible for Him.

So I ask you, as I ask myself, are you willing to walk away from the American Dream and live His dream instead? Are you willing to live by faith?