Blessed Friction...Dos

"Have no fear
For giving in
Have no fear
For getting over
You better know that in the end
It's better to say too much
Then never to say what you need to say again

Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open... wide...

Say what you need to say."

-John Mayer "Say"



"Most birds were created to fly. Being grounded for them is a limitation within their ability to fly, not the other way around."

"You, on the other hand, were created to be loved. So for you to live as if you were unloved is a limitation, not the other way around."

"Living unloved is like clipping a bird's wings and removing it's ability to fly. Not something I want for you." There's the rub Mack didn't feel particularly loved at the moment.

"Mack, pain has a way of clipping our wings and keeping us from being able to fly. And if left unresolved for very long, you can almost forget that you were ever created to fly in the first place.

-from "The Shack" by William Young

*Tom could feel it building for years. It seemed that he has successfully masked the depths inside for much of his life. For whatever reasons lately, in the past 2 years, it was harder and harder. Maybe it was when his wife told him how "she didn't want to do life like that anymore". Maybe it was when he would find himself in his car crying on his way to work. Maybe it was the mask of indifference he wore everytime he saw a picture of his dad. If you could see Tom's life over a period of time...you could see it...you could feel it...building...building...friction...building...anger...building. The janitor at work had no idea that he would, unfortunately, provide the avenue for years of anger and frustration with 1 misplaced mopstroke. The real question was what would happen with Tom now. Would he dive into the why? Would he retreat and defend even more?

*Laura grew up in church, she knew the answer to the questions. The questions were bigger than the answers she knew though. In fact, the answers weren't suffice. Deep down, thought she wouldn't know to say it, there was a draw a "calling" if you will that there's a bigger story than what she'd been told. A bigger God. A bigger love. A bigger life. More real. More authentic. More human. More...faith. Everytime she went back to her home church she felt the friction. Everytime she heard certain songs or certain phrases by, likely, well-meaning people...friction. Almost, intrinsically, she knew what rang true with her soul and she knew what didn't. She knew the shame, fear, and hiding that what she grew up learning about God has led her too. She would never go there again. She didn't want anyone else to either. She happened across a few books that peaked her interest and she started having conversations with a couple of people who spoke like they had been through the exact season of faith friction she was in. It was really tough...good things were around the corner.

Beneath the religion. Beneath the tradition. Beneath the "because we always have". The friction is there. The questions are there. The road to life...real life...abundant life is there. It's okay to be afraid. Just know that no matter where you are. No matter what friction you're dealing with or have dealt with or will deal with in your life, you can be honest about it and walk through it because you are loved. Loved no matter what. Period. Talk with people about the friction in your life you've walked through. Your story. You never know the value others may find in it. Talk with people about the friction you are currently living with. You never know the value you may find in others story or perspective.