A couple of weeks ago I went to Hobbycraft in Cambridge. I had made my purchases and was on my way out the door when a greeting card caught my eye. I thought it was beautiful and immediately went to buy it even though I had no-one to send it to. Here it is… (Made by curly girl design at www.souluk.com)
It sat on my dining room table for a few weeks before going in my card box. I couldn’t bring myself to send it to anyone. I loved it that much. I loved the handmade feel but I think what really struck me about this card were the words “Have only one rule. Be your wild, courageous, brilliant self every single day. No matter what.” I wanted to be my WILD self even though I didn’t have a clue what that meant.
On Friday I got a Whatsapp from my dear friend Sue that said, “You are a wild woman of God.” and I remembered the greeting card and the desire to be wild and the card came out of its box…
Last year at the New Wine conference we heard a great talk by a Ugandan bishop (I think his name was Zac) and he spoke about how in the West safety can be such an idol that cripples us as we are unprepared, on the whole, to do much that is deemed unsafe or risky. And I suppose that for me is what possessing this wild quality that I long for is about. It is about taking risks and not playing it safe, being counter-cultural and dare I say it, a little bit brave, all the while walking in the best that God has for my life. I know in my own life I have allowed myself to be robbed of so many good things that God has had for me through fear and the need to play it safe.
In the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis there is a great scene where Lucy asks the Beavers whether Aslan the lion (who is the allegorical representation of God) is safe. This is the Beaver’s shocked response…
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
God is not safe, but He is GOOD and He is the King! As I seek to live a life as a wild woman of God I know I need to remember this. I know I have a long way to go to let go of the need to play it safe and to instead respond all the time to what God is telling me, no matter how wild and crazy… But, although not necessarily safe, I know I have the very best companion for the journey.
PS. I hope you remember that you too are wild, courageous and brilliant every day and that you let that truth shape your reality. No matter what!
HOPE OVERFLOWING 