“It’s a long story. Better hurry up or you won’t get to hear it.”        Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom, 1984

Like many, I’m sure  the Indiana Jones trilogy was a staple in my childhood home. Raiders of the Lost Ark came out in 1981, a solid 4 years before I was born, but as soon as I hit elementary school I became well acquainted with Indy. Along with falling into a lifelong love for ALL THINGS Harrision Ford and the well-served obsession with intelligent men, my Daddy used these films to teach my sister and I theological truths.

Despite the ridiculous Hollywood artistic liberties, I was intrigued enough to go back and read the Genesis account of the Ark of the Covenant and read about its power throughout the OT. I researched other Eastern religions and found myself asking why anyone would choose THAT over Jesus. And finally, finally, finally…..I fell in love with River Phoenix.

Seriously, I saw the Last Crusade and vowed I would visit Petra, poured over Camelot mythology regarding the chalice, and learned a pivotal lesson about faith.  I learned that even though they are scary; leaps of faith will always be met by a clearly visible, perfectly obvious, impeccably timed,  narrow, non-confusing directional path that will save me from a painful cavernous death. (Adult Cody is laughing at teenage Cody.) I mean, “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths….” It’s biblical, right?

I am telling you these are LIES. ALL LIES. Indy: fictional, made up, ideally complicated man….. you failed me.

THIS I KNOW:

Taking a leap of faith is a free fall. It consists of days, months and years of free falling, adrenaline rushing, tear inducing,

breath taking panic that is overcome only through frequent constant prayer for a net at the bottom of the cavern. 

Dear Jesus, catch me as I fall.

There is no clearly defined path. You still have to make decisions; choices often clouded by doubt. And it requires trust and action.

Alister McGrath, in his book, Intellectuals Don’t Need God & Other Modern Myths, says, “Faith is the response of the whole person to the person of God….. Faith realizes that God loves us, and it responds to that love. Faith trusts in the promising God.”

It is the difference between mentally acknowledging that God has promised us some awesome stuff and actually living our life in such a way that puts us in his will with a spirit of expectancy.

Easier said than done.

I mean who really knows God’s will? And if I go around saying, “Of course God will give me the desires of my heart and bless me mightily….” I am falling prey to  a false presumption that I’m entitled to something never promised. It is missing the point.

Last year when we applied for what we thought was our dream jobs.… I very clearly heard God’s voice say, “No. One more year.” That was hard. If you’ve read anything on this blog, you are probably aware of my desperate desire for God TO ACTUALLY TALK TO ME…. so ….when the first time He did, in like, my whole life….He said NO….. that was real hard.

And….. when I got ahead of myself again….

Last month when what I thought was my dream job told me, “we don’t think you are the right fit,” I cried and asked God, “Why not….”  And some other immature, selfish, wounded prayers….My mother said, “Cody, He has something better.” Honestly, I didn’t believe her. We prayed. I let some things go.

And now: after that season of prayer and years of waiting for our paths to be “clearly directed”, in a period of three weeks, Nathan attended a job fair, we were both invited to interviews and offered jobs at the same school six hours after our interviews were completed. After watching door after door SLAM shut for the past two years,  we have watched doors, gates, steel-reinforced vaults open before us.

I shouldn’t be surprised, the last time this happened we had only a month to prepare a move… thankfully we’ve been granted 100 days….. (or at least that’s what my father-in-law tells me).

So. We start a new adventure. And I am sure I will be learning a lot more about trust, faith, and divine love through it all. Honestly, I am a little terrified and more than undone when I think about all that is about to happen….. I have packed 4 boxes of books and succeeded in only clearing 3 shelves of 8 full bookshelves. I have a storage room and garage full of STUFF: SEVEN YEARS worth of stuff. We have never been responsible for selling or renting a property, and I will have to commute on 316 every morning (if you aren’t from Atlanta….look it up) ….

and then,….  I take pause. I get still and remember how much He has done for us and my heart fills with joy and gratitude and I am spontaneously singing and praising and my whole being feels as though I am falling.

Falling headlong into an all encompassing cavern of grace.

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Images  are stock photos or graciously borrowed. Today’s borrowed picture belongs to jokeroo.com