Beautiful Progression

There is a moment when I am invited to follow.  I hear Him, and I say "Yes" to the invitation. The Son of God, Son of Man is revealed to me, and I'm aware of the reality of Him.
Thus begins the beautiful progression.

I follow Him. I learn from His teachings. I learn from His ways. I step out...out of everything I once thought was important. Like a toddler, I learn to walk.
I worship Him in His beauty.

There are some around me who fear Him. They watch, like Zacchaeus, from afar. Hiding in a tree. Curious. But unsure. Could this Man really be welcoming me? Is He calling me? Is He good?

I see them hiding, but I can trust that He'll find them. He will call their name just as He called mine, and in that moment all resistance will cease. They too, will begin their journey.

So...I continue to follow Him. I am healed. I see others healed. I am in awe. I don't yet understand much, but I am captured by His acceptance of me. He knows me, yet He wants me.
Again, I worship.

The time comes when He invites me to dinner. He tells me He just wants to relax...to recline with me around the table. He wants to know me. Sharing food, wine...laughter, I marvel at this Man.
"He wants to be my friend! How can this be? He likes me!!" I am overcome with laughter.
I sing songs of joy.

Then at one of these intimate meals, He says He wants to serve me. "What? NO!! You can't wash my feet! I am unworthy! I cannot just sit here and receive from You! I should be serving YOU!!" But He insists. "You must allow me to show you what My Kingdom looks like. You must be willing to receive from me, for it is a needed thing. This is what relationship looks like."
In that moment, intimacy with Him grows. He is no longer above me, He is with me. I fall in love with this Man...
While He sings over me.

He begins to speak to me of things I cannot grasp. He is preparing me, but I do not understand.

Until that day...that dark day...when it seems that my Friend has left me. I can no longer see Him. I cannot find Him. It has become so dark. I am grieving. I feel betrayed. I cry out in the darkness, and seem to get no response. At this point, some others have returned home, going back to their old lives. I become so discouraged that the memory of Him seems to taunt me, "Where is your Friend now?" I feel foolish and alone. I am angry.
He was not good after all.
My song becomes a dirge.

Three dark days...

But...I will not waiver in my love. I can not. I learn that once love is awakened, it cannot die. I don't know what is going on. I feel the darkness. I miss His touch. I miss His voice. Why has He left me all alone?
I dry my tears. I can do nothing else but worship...for He has captured my heart. I am determined to minister to Him even in death.
I continue to worship, hoping to see Him. Hoping to catch even a glimpse of Him in the midst of the darkness...in the midst of my tears.

Time stands still. I am overwhelmed in my sorrow. I feel consumed by my suffering.
I worship through my tears.

I believe this was His death...when all along it was mine.

Then the light dawns.

The morning breaks through.
He is alive! He is here!! He has never left me!
He was only doing what had to be done in order to rescue me!
Even in the darkness, He was working good for me!

He seeks me out to show me His wounds. I show Him my own, and He kisses them with His tears.
We are united in our suffering. We are broken, yet together we are whole.

Joy wells up in me. I now understand the great mystery!
He lives! He is good! He will never abandon us! He will never leave us! He is there, even in the darkness, working good on our behalf!! He is ALIVE!!

I cannot wait to go and tell the others. For they must know the mystery...I survived the darkest of days and I live to tell about it! Because He IS good!! He really is!!!

I am beautiful...I am wanted...I am loved.
You are too.
And I am forever changed.
You can be too.
He really is good.