Acting Without the Drama

January 25, 2009. So, okay. I’m a sucker for a good story. And I grew up on stories from the Bible. David and Goliath. Moses and the Israelites. Daniel and the lion’s den.

Good stuff.

Whether you’re religious or not, there’s some pretty cool stories in there. Actually, some of the best are the ones that the religious leaders don’t want you to discover when you’re young. Accurately portrayed, the Bible’s looking at a NC-17 rating at the very least - at least if we’re doing the Old Testament.

One of the things I noticed about those stories is that there are an awful lot of them that repeat a certain chain of events. A person (or group of people) leave a place of ease and hedonism (but usually a place of bondage as well - either spiritual or physical), wander in the wilderness for a while, then find the promised land.

The promised land in this case doesn’t necessarily represent good times. It represents freedom. Freedom isn’t always an easy thing to live with. It is, however, very much worth it.

These stories also mirror the hero’s journey, if you’re paying attention. Reluctant hero, asked to lead, wants to refuse out of a sense of unworthiness. Finally, the banner is reluctantly taken up, but the hero doesn’t succeed at first. Things go from bad to worse, everything seems on the brink of disaster. In order for the hero to succeed, he or she must give up their illusion of control and learn to trust.

I’ve talked before about how I’ve felt like I’m in the second act of my life’s movie. Truth is, I have left a place of relative ease and spiritual bondage. I’m now wandering in the wilderness.

The wandering is intended as a preparation. A giving up of the attitudes and ideals that crept in from Babylon. A time to reflect on what we could’ve done better and what we’d like to do in the future.

Thing is, I get tired of being in the wilderness at times. I haven’t quite figured out that whole “giving up the illusion of control and trusting” thingy. There are moments, but fear always likes to creep in on me, breaking my peace and disrupting my trust.

I think, though, that this is part of the process. I’m not sure this cycle ever completely ends. If it did, I’m pretty sure I’d stagnate. This past year has been one of enormous growth for me and my family.

I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be spending in the wilderness, but I do see the purpose behind it. I do appreciate the lessons the wilderness teaches. I grew up in Texas, so desert camping has its appeal for me…

The lush beauty of the Pacific Northwest beckons, but for now it can wait. I’ll get there when I get there. For the moment, I’m content eating my manna and quail while watching the scorpions battle it out for a scrap of what’s left.

So, if when we find ourselves in a wilderness, we have the option of seeing it as a preparation for something better. Something more free. Something of great worth.

That’s the option I’m choosing for today!

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