I have decided this week to reread one of my favorite books “The Sacred Romance” by a favorite author, John Eldredge. This book and this author leave me with such a profound sense of being understood, clarity and inspiration to move through this life, that I can actually find myself speechless sometimes after reading it. So, as I share with you something I have read at least 5 times through.
We are faced with a decision that grows with urgency each passing day: Will we leave our small stories behind and venture forth to follow our Beloved in to the Sacred Romance? The choice to become a pilgrim of the heart can happen any day and we can begin our journey from any place. We are here, and the time is now, and the Romance is always unfolding. The choice before us is not to make it happen. As Chesterson said, “An adventure is, by its nature is a thing that comes to us. It is a thing that chooses us, not a thing that we choose.” Lucy wasn’t looking for Narnia when she found it on the other side of the wardrobe; in a way, it found her. Abraham wasnt wandering about loking for the one true God; he showed up with an extraordinary invitation. But having had their encounters, both could have chosen otherwise. Lucy could have shut the wardrobe dor and never mentioned what happened there. Abraham could have opted for life in Haran. The choice before us is a choice to enter in.
So much of the journey forward involves a letting go of all that we think brings us life. We turn away from the familiar abiding places of the heart, the false selves we have lived out, the strengths we have used to make a place for ourselves and all our false loves and we venture forth in out hearts to trace the steps of the One who said “Follow me.” In a way, it means we stop pretending that life is better than it is, that we are happier that we are, that the false selves we present to the world are really us.
We respond to the Haunting, the wooing, the longing for another life. Begin this adventure with a twofold turning: a turning away from attachments and a turning toward desire. With an awakened heart, we turn and face the road ahead, knowing that no one can take this trip for us, nor can anyone plan our way.
Memory, imagination, and passion—-these we must keep close at hand if we are to see the journey to its end. Dragons and nits and the noonday demons lie in wait. But the road isnt entirely rough. There are oases along the way. It would be a dreadful mistake to assume that our Beloved (God) is only waiting for us at the end of the road. Our communion with Him sustains us along our path.
Wow, I agree with you on this authors ability to inspire!
I was especially interested by the line; “Begin this adventure with a twofold turning: a turning away from attachments and a turning toward desire.” For myself I think many times the “attachments” are hard to turn away from…Maybe even when I know that my time and efforts are going to be much better spent working on the things I desire. Awareness is the precursor to action.
Thanks for sharing Nikki!
-Josh
Awesome Nikki!