Space Mountain
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)
an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Matthew 2:13)
Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John. (Luke 1:13)
On the same day that I had the epiphany that I could spiritually gift to others what God has so blessed me with, I went to daily Mass. It turns out God wasn’t done speaking just yet. After I returned from communion, God reminded me of a promise He made to me almost 6 years ago regarding our future, [If you give it to me, I will make it amazing.] He wasn’t done, this wasn’t a reminder message, it was a clarification message. I felt God say the following, [Predictable isn’t amazing]. As Jeff and I embark into so many ‘unknowns’ in these upcoming months, I find myself wanting more set variables. As we decide on medical and dental insurance, I would like to know what our health is going to look like. As we get ready to sell our house, I want to know what the housing market will look like. I could go on, but I trust you’re getting the idea. Remember, I am a recovering Type A personality. I think this is a common human ailment, the desire to control. I went home and promptly put those words, [Predictable isn’t amazing] in my journal. Two days later, again at Mass (I hope some of you are starting to see a pattern!) God took me to DisneyWorld after communion. Specifically, He took me to one of our favorite rides, Space Mountain. Space Mountain is a wonderful rollercoaster. It never gets old. Every time I go on, it’s like being on it for the first time. There is a very good reason for this. Space Mountain is a rollercoaster that is ridden in the dark. I don’t get to see the hills, turns, and whatever else it has ahead. I am forced to live the ride in the moment. Today at Mass, God showed me the polar opposite of Space Mountain, It’s a Small World. This is a ride of predictability and boredom. It is a ride that feels like you’re on it forever. It is a ride that we haven’t stepped onto in at least 15 years. It is that uninspiring. Sadly there are a lot of people who believe following Jesus looks like, It’s a Small World. This is a lie of the enemy. The past seven years of my life have proven again and again that abandoning my life to the Space Mountain of spirituality ensures that my life will continue to be amazing. He enters into my time and space of uncertainty to assure me that there is nothing to fear in this uncertainty. He is good for the promises He makes. God has never in His history with His people given too many details. He doesn’t want to ruin the excitement or the surprises, and He wants us to keep coming back to Him again and again. This was a beautiful Chrsitmas gift. He didn’t answer any of my unknown variables, instead He gave me peace in the wild ride that is the unknown. Christmas is a beautiful time to remember to expect the unexpected because extraordinary isn’t predictable. May Jesus, God with us, enter into the nativity of your uncertainty and bring you peace this Christmas. Amen.
