November 6, 2007
Do You Think They Brought Everything They Have? Pt 1
So…here I am in this situation that is not the most comfortable. I am listening to a conversation between a speaker and a group of friends and strangers. The subject being dialogued doesn’t even matter…well it does, but not to what I am writing to you about. What is important is that I was sitting there, not saying anything, and pretty much disagreeing with what is being said. Now trust me, this is not a ‘new’ situation for me; I regularly am in conversations or am listening to someone presenting ideas or thoughts that are contrary to my own. No big deal. I know I have no corner on truth or wisdom, just ask Kim. But today I am agitated. The speaker seems to be creating a river of words that seem all wrong, and I am watching everybody just jump in and splash about as if they are totally unaware that there is a waterfall right around the next couple bends.
One of my best friends is sitting next to me and without looking, I can feel him glance occasionally at me. He knows that this particular subject is one that is near and dear to my heart, and he has heard a few of my rants and raves about it from time to time. Thankfully, I am sitting at the back and doing a fairly good job, I think, of controlling my body language. Inside I am a mix of emotions. Part of me wants to stand up and define in no uncertain terms that the conversation is filled with bovine waste material. Part of me knows better, that such a declaration rarely produces anything that changes the aroma of said waste material, in fact, to do so usually simply adds to the pile. But finally, I lean over and whisper to my friend my perspective on the agrarial nature of the discussion. His response shoves me back into the river of grace where he knows I would rather swim.
My friend leans back, and whispers a question, "Do you think they brought everything they have?"
The walls disappeared, the conversation evaporated and I was standing at the back of a crowd of men. Conversations were muted and everyone was turning to look in the direction that Jesus was pointing. With his other hand to his lips, he motioned silence, and a few final but hushed words trailed out into nothing. At first, I had no idea what I was looking for and in fact heard her before I even saw her. The sense of anticipation was palpable, elevated even higher by the fixed gaze of Jesus in the direction of the approaching sound. I found that I was holding my breath as her approach neared and when she emerged I was stunned. One feeble, little old lady shuffling toward the place where offerings were given. Along with a number of the others, I glanced at Jesus, a little put off, a little surprised, a little disappointed. But he only had eyes for her and his gaze forced ours back to watch her finish the final part of her journey. She was ordinary, she was old, she dragged one leg a bit…not completely well, mostly blind it appeared. It seemed that as far as she was concerned she was alone, neither acknowleging nor considering our presence. She stopped at the box and reached up to draw a wisp of gray hair that had tumbled out from under her tunic. Her face seems is etched by the unkindness of life, but her eyes flash with life and youthfulness, even if mostly blinded by the pain of sorrows. She then reached into her dress and pulled out an old leather pouch, painfully slow in untying the draw strings and tipping it upside down onto her other hand. Two small coins drop. Hiding the pouch again inside the folds of clothing, she picked up the mites from her other hand, holding them between her thumb and forefinger. Slowly she lifted it up, her face breaking across laugh lines into a radiant smile. Then her cloudy eyes opened wide, her eyebrows raised as if she had heard something remarkable. She snapped her gaze right to Jesus, and I glanced at him just in time to see him smile and bow a little to her. Somehow she knew in whose presence she was…and it was enough. The sound of approaching voices and she quickly wiped some tears that had begun to fall, dropped the coin and shuffled out of the way of busier people, leaving untraced and unnoticed, except by one who mattered. And me, I was looking at my own feet, wishing that I was brave enough to take off my shoes. And his voice of love gently pieced me like a blade, "Brothers, do you think she brought everything she has?"
16 Comments on Do You Think They Brought Everything They Have? Pt 1 »
November 12, 2007
Curtis Wood @ 11:36 pm:
Willie,
It took 3 readings to understand what you were trying to say. When it hit I about lost my teeth with amazement. Wow!! What an understanding so outside the box of my religious traditional spiritual understanding of my Jesus and how He looks upon us and our limitations. He accepts us all…and with just all we have to give…imagine that!
Bless you my brother, Curt
November 21, 2007
Michael J. a.k.a. Peace in the Battle @ 1:04 am:
Quite intriguing Willie. How often do we really bring everything? Here is a thing, I say I have a devoted heart and have a desire for a devoted heart, but really?
Lovingly your titled halo Brother
Willie @ 8:24 am:
It is my opinion that a person brings everything they have at any moment. Sometimes it is a real mixed bag, fears and turmoil, denial and lies, theological acuteness or inaccuracy, embarrassment…whatever…but at that moment in time, it is everything they have. We are not talking about what a person could potentially bring, if they understood their identity clearly, if the wisdom that others have deposited would simply be tapped, if they could only draw upon the resources of their relationship with Father…we are talking about what they ‘do’ bring…and in their guilt or hiding or wonder or laughter…in that moment they bring everything they have. I also find that when you extend a person grace and allow for space for them to bring what they have, sometimes you will watch as they begin to look inside themselves to see if there isn’t more…and then…sometimes…you get surprised!
kent @ 5:38 pm:
Willie as I was driving home from work tonight I was thinking of a loved one that is so trapped and has been for so many years. All of my attempts to help them over the years just seemed to create more misunderstandings and hurt in both of us. It was awhile ago I really felt Jesus suggesting to me that maybe he hadn’t asked me to help ‘fix’ this person. Being so exhausted by my many failed attempts I decided to take a risk and trust that he was really telling me it would be a good idea to just accept them where they were at and really learn to extend the grace he has shown me to them.
While driving home and looking back over the past year or so it really did become very clear and is so amazing how this change in how I live with them has created a new space for them to respond.
This comment that you have just shared here has opened my eyes even a bit wider to something so wonderful. They have been all along, bringing all they had.
Papa’s grace is so amazing.
November 22, 2007
Sue @ 5:02 am:
Kent linked here today. I’m a lemming, so I did too.
Ahh, grace. You can swim in it, you can drink it, you can eat it, you can curl up and sleep in it, you can stand on the top of it and touch the sky.
March 4, 2008
Charles Hood @ 9:20 pm:
My Computer just blinked, while writing. I just finished your book and loved it. I can only hope that everyone will feel this way when they read it. My only question is, ” Why do you allow this to be called fiction, when it is clearly nonfiction? ” Thank you and may God bless you greatly, also send our love to Mack and his family.
March 19, 2008
Roy Proctor @ 5:41 pm:
I just finished reading The Shack, which I bought based on your interview on the 700 Club. While the plot started very slowly, I’m glad I stuck with it. You presented the Father, Son and Holy Spirit without the gastly doctrine of the Trinity. It encourages me to get back to work on a non fiction I started about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
At one point in reading the book, I realized that the agreement between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit shows that God is at peace with Himself. The agreement between the three tells me that Christians are to seek that same peaceful agreement among each other.
I’ve got to study parts of it again because it goes quite deep into things I’ve never thought about.
Thanks for this inspiring work.
May 20, 2008
John E.Claunch @ 7:29 pm:
Your writing has inspired me to live life to the fullest! We lost our son recently and the hurt of my heart was great! God continues to show us that He desires us to love him even through the hurt we feel. He continues to change me and make me want to be closer to Him! Thank you for helping me to Look to the LIGHT! John
May 31, 2008
Scott McCracken @ 10:12 am:
I loved “The Shack”. I am an American sharing the Gospel with refugees in Austria and Greece for over 20 years. The last few years have seen new struggles in my walk with God. Your chapter on judgment really struck something deep and relevant in my spirit. I cried for hours. I can’t explain how, but the Holy Spirit used it to bring deep repentance and healing in me.
I am currently praying about which friends to buy the book for.
Whatever criticism you are receiving, please know that there are MANY being ministered to by this wonderful gift from God (including several missionaries I know here in Athens, Greece). God bless you!
June 7, 2008
Steve Lindvall @ 5:34 pm:
Just finished “The Shack” and must say I was very touched. The depth of the love I encountered was truly astounding. We need to forget the organizations and let go and follow the one who truly has everlasting love. Truly a work for this time, thank you.
Sharon @ 7:18 pm:
Dear Fellow Servant… You will see that I am not a writer, but I am a person that God has talked with on different times in my prayer or study time and I myself have heard and seen several of the things that you and Mack put in your book The Shack . I bought four copies for others and read mine three times and I can’t tell enough people to go get a copy… It’s a must read. And now I am underlining things that ministered to me in a way that I have not been touched in quite some time. When I had an all nighter with God , my own Pastor called me a lunatic. But I know God and I know what He showed me and what He told me. There is not a human that can change that. I thank God that my daughter told me about your book. I stand in awe once again of the majesty of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit. And I am encouraged to know that there are those that will dare step into the Spirit realm and share with Grace the things that God showed them… My life will forever be changed because of the things that you penned, and the truth that permeated out of your writing. I am also not a reader, so know that you hit the nail on the head to keep my attention. Thank you and may God continue to use you to touch those of us that need to be moved on in the light of the truth… I stand amazed !!! And richly blessed because our Father desires us to go deeper and know… And Know… HE IS !!! Whatever you do , don’t let the naysayers rob your gift. Always, Sharon :o) A 58 yr.old chosen vessel :o)
June 26, 2008
Keith Wm. Bender @ 6:10 am:
Thanks for such a great book…….lots of healing tears shed.
My hope is that this book somehow reaches MILLIONS of people…..I’ll do what I can to help make that happen.
June 27, 2008
Larry McGarr @ 12:33 pm:
Aside from the praise for The Shack - my personal favorite book of this millenium; I want to echo Curtis above. I’ve never brought everything; and I know that is why I carry guilt and shame with me most of the time. I know I’m so much better than I’ve been. God has way more faith in me than I have in myself. My biggest fear is that I’ll find out that I would have been a success at anything I tried…if I had only tried.
July 4, 2008
Ernie White @ 11:26 am:
Thanks for your “present help” writing! I read The Shack about a month ago and was totally blown away. What a great blessing it has been to consider and share with others. The rumors are as good as the truth.
Today is the 4th of July and I am reading some of your blog entries. I especially appreciated “They brought everything they have” 1 and 2. Like you, I started out my life in another culture and am greatly influenced in my thinking by something that is not mainstream America. I love my country dearly, but I long for a celebration that my many “alien” friends (legal and illegal, minority etc.) would be invited to fully enter into. Everything that I have as a documented American, and even more as a documented Christian is theirs to enjoy. What a wonderful God we serve. Without hesitation he pours out is grace on all of us regardless how much or little we think we know and we get the privilege of being in his unlimitable (is that a word?)presence. Please keep writing and don’t worry about responses. You are in a unique position to speak the truth.
July 9, 2008
Andi @ 6:36 pm:
As I read the comments about the ways this book has affected the people who have read it, I can only echo their sentiments of hope and the undying love of our God: Papa, Sarayu and Jesus! My faith has been restored and validated by your story. Thank you and may Papa bless you.
July 19, 2008
Susan Maxwell @ 7:38 pm:
Thank you for the book!!!! It is a book that really let’s us see just how we put God in a box. It seems to me that if we let God be God. If we keep him in our little box, God could show up and we would miss him!! After all the way God showed up in the shack I would have missed him. I pray from this moment on after reading the shack that I let God be God and let him show up anyway he wants. Thank you for giving us this story. I got it today and just finished it. I say God bless you.