Don't Be Silly

The book closes and the characters breathe a sigh of relief.

                “Ugh.” Trip jumps up. “If we have to run that passage one more time, I might rip out the page.”

                “You wish.” Lucy, the other protagonist, laughs.

                “Why does she keep reading that part?” He asks.

                “It’s an interesting scene. I mean, look at all we just did!”

                “Yeah, thirteen times now. In one week.”

                “It has meaning to her.” Lucy explains. “We’re helping her through something.”

                “Yeah, right. We’re characters in a book, Luce. We don’t hold that kind of power.”

                “Of course not, but our writer knew of the impact we could make.”

                “Oh.” He looks up at her, mocking. “Our writer- I’d almost forgotten about our most amazing creator.” He laughs. “Luce, how could you let me forget?”

                “He’s real,” is all she says.

                “Why don’t you get it, Luce?” He gestures at the black and white that surrounds them, suddenly angry. “This is all there is! This is where we exist.”

                “There is so much more! Trip, why can’t you see?” She looks him in the eye, pleading.

                “We evolved from these letters.” He says with a note of finality.

                “That’s preposterous!” She cries, almost wanting to laugh. “We were lovingly, beautifully made. We have a purpose.”

                “The only love,” he starts, grabbing her hand, “is what’s between us.”

                “Our creator loves us more than we could ever imagine. It’s bigger than us. He has a plan. We just have to trust-“               

                “I have a plan!” Trip jumps down the page. “How about we go see what the others are up to. This conversation is so…”

                “Infuriating?” She storms after him and pulls him back. “Trip, it’s the number one conversation worth having.”

                “Lucy, seriously…please? Let’s just go.”

                “He gave our lives meaning. He is our entire reason for existence.”

                “Lucy, are you hearing yourself? You’re telling me,” He faces her and grabs her shoulders, “that we were specifically designed by someone-someone we can’t see, hear, or touch- who ultimately has control of our entire universe, and that he has some sort of perfect plan for us?”

                “Yes. We are His creation.”

                “We’re characters in a story Luce, characters aren’t created.” He laughs at her. “Look, we just need to concentrate on the book, and not some invisible almighty being.”

                “He ultimately is the writer of this book, Trip.”

                “Lucy, you’re insane.” He walks away, appalled at how stubborn she is being. He knows that characters don’t have writers who create them. That would make no sense at all.

temptation

The desert, dry and hot

Relentlessly surrounds me.
You tell me to hold on-
And I’ll inherit Your bounty.

I’ve never been so thirsty,
As it holds out the drink,
Glistening and beautiful-
It wills my faith to sink.

I’ve always wanted the water,
But I was content to wait for You.
Now as this offer is made,
I’m not sure what to do.

I know you say it’s poison,
That to drink it would be a waste,
But I’ve gone so far without,
I long to have a taste.

Corruption is funny,
Its orchestrator wise.
It’s always cloaked in wonder,
But then the victim dies.

Subtleties push me toward the water,
Even as you tell me to wait
Can’t You see I’m desperate?
Won’t it be too late?

How do I resist it?
How do I pull Your will from this place?
How do I make myself see You,
Instead of that beautiful face?

More Than Meets the Eye

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” – Ephesians 6:12

Evil is never blatant. The devil is smarter than that-the master of his craft. He covers his deeds with the most beautiful and intriguing masks. Our free-will and desires are putty in his hands. He hides his agenda in good-intentioned people and level-headed logic. He knows us, not as well as the Lord, but well enough to target our weaknesses and attack them with great stealth. His art is deception; he will never reveal to you his doings.

Unless you are aware of “this present darkness,” you will never recognize it. This is why we must be grateful for God’s grace and sovereignty. There is a war at place on this earth, one that must be seen –just not with our eyes. There are angels and demons, fighting and influencing.  If you know, then you can take heart that good will prosper, but that doesn’t mean there will be a lack of suffering in the meantime. It means there will be more, especially to those of us who are aware of the reason.

We are the ones who will be tested and tried; we are the ones who will fully endure the wrath, because ignorance is, in fact, bliss. The blissful are the ones who will hurt in the end, though, if we don’t stay strong and do our best to show them otherwise. We are willing because we know we can take peace in God, knowing that He is ultimately in control and that He will never leave us.

There is a plan-His plan, grander than we’ll ever know, and this is all a part of it. So we must endure this present darkness, and be thankful to know a greater Light.