A Return of the Old?
A Return of the Old?
It’s been a while since I’ve written a blogpost for Revealed Image. I can’t decide if the quiet has been the absence of the Spirit speaking or due to my own busyness and self-induced fog (the latter I’m sure). Something is rousing now though, and the Spirit whispers, “It is time.” It’s time to kick up some dust and make a return, and He speaks in so many beautiful ways...
Our transition and move back home to Arkansas has been a whirlwind and I feel we have not even looked up to catch our breath and it’s been almost 9 months. The years go by when you are surviving…but there is a deep longing stirring in our home and has been for some time. We often have had difficulty putting words to it. Our world has been really clouded with busyness, obstacles and difficulty as long as I can remember. Opposition of the enemy toward our family has intensified exponentially since we stepped out to start a ministry, so much so that I have often wondered if we were hearing God’s call correctly or if we are just fools. We have felt beaten down by those difficulties and obstacles, for years truthfully, but all the while in the midst of suffering, we have been growing stronger together with Jesus. For that I am so grateful. We are becoming so much more alert in hearing God’s voice and seeing Him as He truly is. We are stronger in our marriage, communicating better together, and we are more united than ever before. We are becoming better parents (God continue to give us strength) and we are starting to stand up from this dusty battlefield and beginning to see through the smoke. Today, as I sit here in my living room folding the mounds of laundry, watching a television series on Netflix about the Scottish Highlands in the 18th century, it hit me HARD…
I desire a return of the old. WE desire a return of the old days and the old ways of life. This life just feels all too often like it is TOO MUCH for our souls to bear. Battle and opposition at every turn, battle for our marriage, battle for our kids’ hearts, battle to overcome tradition and pursue Jesus’ truth in our churches, battle over the inundation of information from social media and news media, battle over our country and politics…ever intensifying and never ceasing BATTLE… It often seems like this day and age as Christians we are swimming upriver and that current is swift.
WE DESIRE A RETURN OF THE OLD!
This May, we had the opportunity to go to England and Scotland with a group of students for a class a good friend and colleague, Price Blair, and I created about the history of the study of human anatomy. The trip was fantastic for many reasons (yes, I’m a total nerd when it comes to the history of science, medicine and art!) But, the connection to things of old and especially the connection to our family heritage…it was palpable. The beauty of the old, the traditions, and not to mention the ever-present beauty seen in the gardens, the colors (oh that Scottish Blue!!!) and the old-world craftsmanship…all the gorgeous doors…sigh. I love the OLD ways of doing things, the deep meanings, traditions and methods. I guess it was my love of England and Scotland (and of course my love of British history) that made me start the Netflix series and why I continue to be intrigued by it.
Don’t get me wrong, this television series comes complete with a plethora of violence, including violence against women, and MANY scenes that I have to pause and fast forward through because I just don’t need to see those images…sometimes (like this life) this show is just too much to stomach… But what has mesmerized me about this TV series is how it reminds me about the desires of our hearts…it keeps me engaged, anxiously awaiting the rescue, the restoration. Our hearts long for rescue and restoration on a daily basis…a return of the Kingdom, back to the Garden, for Jesus to return and make all things new…
As we make our way through this life on this side of heaven, it has become evident to me that our hearts also desire a cause to pour ourselves into, we desire sacrificial love and intimacy in our marriages and relationships, and friendship that runs DEEP and true.
In other words, Joseph and I desire unity in our marriage with God and each other and we desperately desire an authentic community in this world of the “Facebook façade” and the great political divide. Don’t you desire this deep down in your soul too? Wouldn’t a return to the old ways be the perfect remedy? I can’t help but picture a collective farm with all families around working together for food, defense, appreciating and caring for the beauty of the kingdom around them, a simple local church where we can all walk and meet together to worship. What we wouldn’t give to have this here in this life, today!
Rescue and restoration from God are the foundational longings and desires for each of us. Our hearts were made for the Garden. By the way, check out this amazing song and video by Crowder called, “Back to the Garden” and the song and video by Lauren Daigle called, “Rescue.” Woooooo mercy… these songs are my JAM right now. They speak so much to this desire and longing. I also wanted to break down the other heart’s desires a wee bit. (I’m doing my best to work Scottish words and accents into my daily life now…)
We desire a CAUSE…I’m talking, the kind of cause that you’ll gladly give your life in battle for cause. For us, that cause is the Kingdom of Heaven and the battle is and has been intense. In the Netfilx series I’ve been watching there is a unified cause against the oppression of the English and a fight to keep their traditions and old ways of life. They fight for their religious beliefs, for the safety of their families, for their clan and for those they love. I realize history tells us; it is NEVER this simple…but I do understand from human nature how courage and bravery can be called upon when there is a unified and deeply meaningful cause.
In our family, we have desired to change our culture and direction for some time now. We have made some big family decisions that many call foolish. We have chosen to forsake Joseph’s career to focus on giving our family what they truly need. We have longed for the days of old, when children were the parent’s apprentices and mom and dad worked together to build a kingdom, not just a material or even a literal kingdom, but a foundation and culture for their family and for generations to come… A good friend told us recently, “I see what you guys have been doing…I really respect what you are trying to do for your family. I see it” What life she spoke into us in this recognition! It’s hard to swim up-river in this culture and to say it is fatiguing would be the understatement of the year. Our friend noticed that we were attempting to rekindle something of old…and it gave us strength to continue to persist, despite those difficulties.
I pray for our family to have a renewed sense of our cause in these times of difficult…to partner with Jesus and bring the kingdom of heaven here in our domain. I pray for the energy and strength that only God gives us for the ongoing battle for this cause. We will continue to fight to bring the kingdom here with a renewed determination… “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven….”
In addition to a unified cause, we desire sacrificial love and intimacy in our marriage (for all marriages). Wouldn’t that be BEAUTIFUL if sacrificial love and intimacy was carried out to its full potential? Have you ever wondered why so many (women, most typically) read and watch stories of romance? Harlequin romance novels, Pride & Prejudice…even the Twilight series…what are women seeking? What fulfillment do they receive from these books, movies, etc? They are longing for and looking for sacrificial love and intimacy. We all long for love that trusts, grows, gives, overcomes adversity and comes out stronger on the other side. We long for someone to fight for us, to believe the best in us, and to desire us (and only us) completely. This is what makes women love how Edward comes for Bella in “Twilight”… so beautiful! Now, let’s be clear about something…I’m not impressed with the whole “helpless woman always needing a big, smart, strong man to come save her” business either. I also love a good story of when women step into their strength…cue the Wonder Woman scene when she takes off her cloak and steps out of the trench…ummmm…bring it sister! But I’m TIRED too. I’m tired of constantly “bringing it” in this world and honestly, when my man is living in his strength and gifting and I get to lay mine down for a bit, just to rest…y’all …that’s the stuff of heaven right there. This is why these stories of romance continue to speak to me and stir my heart. I don’t want to have to be that woman who fights and battles all the time…it pushes out all the room I have to truly LOVE.
In the Netflix series I’ve been mentioning, the primary couple is very intriguing. The male character, Jamie, reminds me so much of Joseph. He is deeply kind and compassionate to others, loyal and true, brave and stubborn…a protector of ALL women but fiercely loving and protecting of his love, Claire. Claire is feisty, without much care for the establishment if it means standing up for what is right. She is strong, stubborn, gets a bit mouthy at times, overcomes adversity and she will fight for and alongside her husband, sometimes without considering the consequences. This is kind of similar to me. Jamie and Claire (and also Joseph and Lori) fight BIG in their marriage and work through some huge issues and challenges, but they grow together, learn to look inward into themselves and then they are willing to individually reflect and change. They forgive each other and grow closer in unity and more in love in the process. They have constant setbacks and obstacles all around them, battle on every side, yet they work through it…struggle…and overcome together. It reminds me so very much of Joseph and myself and it’s so interesting to watch and consider those parallels and lessons learned in our own marriage.
We see so many marriages around us who suffer but who don’t struggle through, overcome and come out on the other side. Our life hasn’t been easy, but I thank God for Joseph’s heart, how he listens and surrenders to God, who changes him. He is a loyal warrior and loves me FIERCELY. Through God’s grace, we continue to grow together, battle, and overcome and we hope to continue to grow in sacrificial love and intimacy with God and with each other. We can’t make it in this life without each other.
This pic was taken in Stratford upon Avon in England. This was the home of my (Lori’s) ancestral grandparents on my father’s side. It was very surreal to be there. My spirit felt like this was home. We could both got “spiritbumps” and felt the presence of family as we entered the church grounds.
WE WANT TO HELP OTHERS FIND THAT IN THEIR MARRIAGES TOO!
Equally important in desire is Friendship…authentic community. I’m talking, friendship that gets dirty with you…The kind that knows your good, bad, and ugly and rides out with you anyway. The kind that will set you straight when you need it but be with you to the bitter end.
In the Netflix series, Jamie’s sister and Claire’s sister-in-law, Jenny, is equally as feisty as Claire and is the epitome of a strong, resourceful, and cunning Scottish woman. Claire helps Jenny give birth, delivering a breech baby after several days of labor (no small task for that momma) and a couple days later, Jenny jumps up on a horse to ride alongside Claire to go save Jamie from the Redcoats because her husband is too injured to do it. Claire knows Jenny shouldn’t be riding because she had just given birth but she also knows Jenny is the only one who can help her track them down and save Jamie, who they both love. They help save each other in their times of greatest need. (Hope that’s not too much of a spoiler alert). It’s a beautiful picture of a ride or die friendship…self-sacrificing, going to battle together, present in the ugly and able to speak and receive TRUTH.
In today’s world of insecurity, independence and a culture of posing and fake-ness… some real, authentic, “ride or die” friendships are essential to survive this life. These authentic friendships are a treasure to have…and they are OPPOSED. One of the best and most efficient ways the enemy can take us out is to isolate us from our spouse or from our authentic community. God speaks to us so often through that authentic community, through those who TRULY know and walk with Him.
All of this is so completely opposed. Even our longing for a “return of the old” is not a longing for the way things were, but rather a longing for the way things SHOULD be…were created to be. We do not long for a return of every aspect of the old ways, for example, we love central heat and air, indoor plumbing, and electricity! More specifically, however, we loath the oppression of women rampant in the days of old. The last thing this television series surfaced for me was the reminder of the long and deep-seeded history of how that oppression of women has spanned the millennia. Women of strength, courage, and honor have had to overcome so many battles (and still do) to live as God has created them to be. The enemy has been so set against mankind since creation, but ESPECIALLY against woman and against the unity of marriage (See Genesis Chapter 3 for all the details). It is not coincidence the enemy came to divide the marriage of Adam and Eve immediately after they were described as “together as one flesh…naked and unashamed.” (Genesis 2:24-25) There has been hatred and attack on the woman and on marriage since the fall. She (Eve) received all the shame and blame of the fall (despite the fact that Adam was right there) and we, as daughters of Eve inherit that shame and blame in the flesh. But thankfully, there was Jesus and his ULTIMATE restoration!
What I began to see more clearly as I watched this series and took time to reflect with Jesus, is my desire wasn’t really for old things, but for a restoration of the beauty that He originally created…the unity and equality of marriage and the transfer of hope and Kingdom throughout the generations. This is what captured my heart in watching Jamie and Claire…it reminds me so much of the life and love Joseph and I have found in the struggle and fight for unity. Imagine what a force we could be for the Kingdom if we were ALL able to unlearn what we’ve learned wrong and be united in our battle and cause in our marriages and could do so in an authentic community!
Imagine if we could all collectively pursue a return of the old...back to the Garden. What if we lived with Jesus like the Kingdom of Heaven is already here!
“...Jesus started preaching. He picked up where John left off: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.””
This image was taken by Joseph while he was outside mowing, and he said this, “Sometimes it takes kicking up a little dust to see where God is really shining through in your world.” He heard and received the Spirit speaking at exactly the same time I was writing this blog post…isn’t that beautiful?! Let’s all kick up some dust!
A few more pictures from our trip to the U.K.