Radically Happy

MIC Check

Today’s Most Important Challenge is…

• Being appropriately vulnerable
• So I help others help me
• Without unnecessary frustration

Immanuel Approach Memo

Continued from 3/12 IAM: Bedrock

I am… falling.

When I stepped off the cliff with my eyes closed
I expected Jesus to catch me

And in a sense, He did
I feel His hands grasp my outstretched arms

But He doesn’t stop me from falling
Instead, He falls with me

He doesn’t stop me from falling
Instead, He falls with me

I feel the air rushing past
Feel the ground coming near
Feel Jesus holding me

I am at peace
If I die, I die
All that matters
Is that I am with Jesus
Doing what He called me to do

The more insane
The greater the opportunity
To show Him my love
My trust
By obeying

We hit the ground

And pass through
Gradually slowing
Until we come to rest
With my feet upon solid ground

I open my eyes

I look for Jesus.

I don’t see Him
I don’t see anything

I am tempted to panic
Then remember what I have survived
How Jesus held my hands
And I decide to laugh
(Albeit with a slight hysterical edge)

I look around.

I see a glimmer of light in the distance
I turn and head toward it
Arms still outstretched

Periodically
I run into
Or brush against
Pillars
Enormous, marble pillars

I am in some kind of cavernous room
A ballroom?
Fancy underground parking?
At least the floor is perfectly smooth and level

As I draw closer to the light
I see it is an ordinary door
Slightly ajar

I feel a twinge of fear
Who else is down here?
What is this place under the city?
Why did Jesus let me fall into it?

Lowering my arms
I creep up to the door

I look inside.

I see giant banks of machinery
Pumps
Pipes
Boilers
Pistons
Compressors

The infrastructure of the city
Somehow in perfect repair
Despite the ruin above ground

Was it always here like this
Or did Jesus miraculously repair it
Or even install it
When the city was elevated?

I look again for Jesus.

I see Him wandering around the equipment
Whistling
Dressed like a maintenance man
Complete with a name badge

I look at myself.

I am dressed the same way
But
My name badge is a white stone
With a new name written on it
That nobody else knows

I look to Jesus.

I roll up my sleeves
And I get to work

To be continued

Reflection

I feel…

• Exhilarated
• Humbled
• Called
• Peaceful
• Pedestrian
• Gainfully employed

Scripture

For He has humbled those who dwell on high; He lays the lofty city low. He brings it down to the ground; He casts it into the dust.
Isaiah 26:5