Off the Cliff

When I was little, my dad used to tell the five of us kids stories at night when we were all tucked in. He sat on the floor in the hallway between the boys' room and the girls' room. Our doors open, we fell asleep (as often as possible) to the sound of Dad's voice weaving tales of faith and adventure. We were always the main characters in his tales. "The Adventures of Katelyn, Caroline, Samuel, Emilie, and Josiah!" Not very catchy, is it? Well, he worked with what he had. I never fell asleep during the story. Even if everyone else was out, I'd beg for more. I wanted to know what happened. Dad always left off at the most exciting bit. This vexed my young self. But it gave me alot to look forward to the next night.

Alot of you have asked me what I'll be doing now. Internship is over. I have spent a little over a month at home, visiting family and getting to know Ecclesia Austin, our young church meeting in Small Middle School. It's been an incredible time of growth and getting a better grasp on what the Lord has for this next season. Both my family and I have spent alot of hours in prayer. Ecclesia Austin has grown and changed since I have been away. I am so thankful to the Lord for bringing such loving and lovely people to our little gathering. I have been permanently changed, even in this short time here. The blessing has been tremendous.

This leads me to the "cliff" and what the Lord has in store for the next season of 'me.' In a paricular bedtime story, I and my siblings were being chased by an enemy. Running the the mountains of Colorado (The Needle Mountains) we came suddenly to a cliff. Looking around, there was nothing but one solitary signpost. It bore the inscription "Leap of Faith." Surely we weren't meant to leap into this chasm. I mean, it made precious little sense to do so. But there was no route other than faith. So we lept. I remember, as a child, feeling the goose-bumps raise on my arms and neck as I beheld in my mind's eye, the five of us abandoning everything that made sense to believe for the impossible. In the story, a strong up-draft of warm air caught the five of us and swept us to the other side of the gorge. We landed, perhaps uncerimoniously, but safe and alive on the other side.

For me, my 'leap' is to return to Minnesota, where I lived before my Internship in England. I am very sad to leave my family again. And the decision has not been an easy one. But in an effort to be obedient to what the Lord would have me do, I'm moving. I don't know what the Lord may have for me on the other side of the 'leap.' Nevertheless, I know that He will complete the good work that He has begun in me. I know I can trust Him. As the song says, "He's always been faithful to me." Living in MN, I will work and do life, and be involved in the church there. But the primary focus of my time there will be to fast and pray and seek the Lord. It's a time to be "Mary," a time to sit at His feet. I will be asking for direction and the 'next step.' But there is much more to it than that. I find myself in a very unique time of life. There won't ever be another time like it. And in this time, the Lord has alot to say. And I have alot of listening to do.

I don't know who coined the phrase. But one of my dear friends posed the question to a group of us on several occasions: "What does it look like to be 'violently Mary?' " What does it look like to fight for the place of prayer? I thought I knew the answer. I thought I'd done it. But I have a sneaking suspicion that God is about to blow everything wide open again. He's about to lead me through a humbling season of laying it all down and letting Him be the potter. I know He'll give me the grace to stay still.

Thank you for reading! The Lord never does anything boring! Our lives definitely have mundane tasks and every-day experiences. But walking with Jesus through them is the sweetest taste. What an abundant life He gives!

Katelyn