Taking the Leap

Speaking about some great Invitation and about the Life that is found in God – with all the intimacy and beauty and mystery of Him – is great, and so vital for our time. Dallas Willard explains that in order “to trust in God, we need a rich and accurate way of thinking and speaking about him to guide and support our life vision and our will.” He says that biblical language provides such way of thinking of God, of course, but so too has this language “continued to be carefully crafted in the works of Christian writers well into the twentieth century.” And, I would add, on through to our time.

But, until we take those leaps following after the Risen One, we run the risk of just talking. Words must be accompanied by experience, or better, preceded by it, and then followed through with real action. As Rich Mullins once pointed out, “faith without works, baby, it just ain’t happenin’.”

I usually balk at such talk, because I feel like it normally comes from folks scared of words and naive about their power (because they do hold such power as images and metaphors and expressions of our desire). It’s accurate to say that Jesus holds a high regard for words and the stories they tell and the responses they can elicit for those that are open to them. The Word of God is called the Sword of the Spirit for good reason. And his miracles were always illustrations of his sermons. That is to say, in the gospels we find that he was not just full of talk. He was full of the life and power and presence of God. (And still is.) With all of that, He is also intimate and conversational, personal and direct, defined by love and truth.

So, this is where the rubber meets the road. I came across a journal entry this morning from an author of a book, and, well, I gotta say that I feel that God led me right to his entry to read what living a life of risk might look like for me:

Jeff Taylor: Author?

It would appear so, I guess. I never really thought about it until now. I was looking in my archives from last July and here is what I said on July 7th (a year ago yesterday):

"I took a big step yesterday. That is all I am going to say for now."

What was the big step? Sending in a book proposal for the xx-xy affair, which soon became Friendlationships: From Like, to Like Like, to Love in Your Twenties! A year ago I took a risk. I risked rejection and everything and now, one year later, I am days away from the book hitting shelves nationwide. Friend, if there is something you want to do, just go and do it.

Back in high school, I was on my school's Academic Decathlon team. We were ranked first in the state going in to the state competition. In my mind, we were going to win. I did not allow any thoughts of losing enter my mind. One of my coaches told me that he admired my ability to stare failure in the eye and spit right in its face.

What are the things in life you want to strive for? Are you wanting that new job that you might not be qualified for? Are you wanting to ask that hot girl out that will probably turn you down? Just go for it. Jump right in and try it.

You need to realize that God wants you to experience joy in your life. He wants to be glorified through your risks. He wants to do great things through you. So, look shame and the fear of failure in the eye and spit right in its face. You could lose (like I did at that state competition) but you will at least know that you tried.

I may not sell a single copy of the book. It may get horrible reviews. But I tried.

Can you say the same thing about yourself?

(found at http://www.jefftaylorministries.org/)

What I can say about myself is that I find in me desires that are hard and fast and real. Those are meant to be stoked and fanned into flames (2 Timothy 1:6). I am beginning to see that I must live a life of risk to pursue those desires heartily. That pursuit will lead me into the calling and purpose of my life… and ultimately to Him.

I want to write. I want to find and redeem that language to help guide and support our vision and will as we pursue Christ. There, I admitted it. Now to taking the leap…