Oh, the Drama

I love drama. We are big fans of Prison Break in our house, which probably has more twists and turns than the vast majority of other tv shows.

Drama attracts us.  Who will win the next race...the next election...the next promotion?  We like to hear inside stories of what really happened.  Following the drama in the lives of celebrities is huge business.

Conflict is a necessary ingredient in drama.  Without conflict, there is no story line.  There has to be a problem that needs resolving.  The problem creates tension and the episode is over only when the tension is resolved.  Then naturally, we look for more tension to sustain our interest in the story line.

I love all this - except when it happens in my own life.  In my own life, I tend to resist high drama, problems and tension.  I don't like conflict.  I don't appreciate suspense (when I don't know how something is going to turn out - well or poorly).  It bothers me.  Sometimes I pray God would take the drama out of my life.

But then I realize God works through drama.  If you actually read the stories of scripture for what they are - they are filled with drama.  What happens to Adam and Eve now that they've sinned?  Is James really going to get beheaded?  Will Daniel survive the lion's den?  Will Paul make it through his latest stint in jail?  How come Peter is being arrested again?  Will Jesus be betrayed tonight? 

So here's the tension.  If God is going to use you and me, it's probably going to involve drama.  That's the way life and faith work.  We're being stretched, tried, tested.  There's a battle between good and evil and you and I live in its jaws.

How am I going to embrace drama?  How am I going to live out James 1?  Can I see tension, drama, suspense as part of the natural journey of faith?  Am I okay with good and evil battling it out on the tarmac of my heart? 

What do you think?  Do you welcome tension, drama and suspense as part of life and part of life in Christ?

(P.S. Thanks for the preaching ideas.  Keep em coming.  I'd love to hear more!)

Comments

[Casey Darnell]

great post man.
im having drama central today
i think i twittered about it a couple times already

but i just sent my wife and one year old daughter up to toronto. my wifes grandfather passed away while he was here visiting in the states.

so i booked her a ticket to visit her dad and be with family during the time.

CRAZY HARD THING TO DO just sending them off at the airport.

i cried my eyes out uncontrollably and didnt know how to shut off the faucet...like my heart shattered or something.

you would have thought i wasnt seeing them again. so anyway - drama is good i agree.

makes you feel alive for sure...and helps you feel the weight of your love for others...sometimes...

All that to say thanks for the post...spoke to me good this morn!

CASE

[Carey Nieuwhof]

Casey...thanks for sharing this. That's so hard seeing your family leave for a time, especially under sad circumstances. I was really close to my grandfather...I can imagine all the emotions your wife is feeling now too.

Thanks for letting God use your morning experience like this.

[Christine Schultz]

I definitely feel like I've been stretched, tried, and tested the past few days. It's hard looking at these words which have such negative emotions behind them as a natural journey of faith. It's all in the mindset I guess. It's nice seeing a different viewpoint on the drama and anxiety I've had in my life lately. It's times like these when I start to question my faith and God, yet at the same time, the motto of "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" rings loud and clear through my head. lol

All of this 'full moon mania' is hopefully temporary and when good things start happening, it's so much easier to appreciate them!

[Rebekah]

oooh...i hear a sermon series coming on. "Oh, the drama!"...how God uses life's moments of insanity to call us into relationship with Him. Hmmm. I'm going to have to think about that.

I tend to be an avoid-conflict girl myself. But I'm trying to grow up and out of that. I'm trying to learn that the drama is part of moving forward, that conflict CAN be healthy. Fear is probably the devil's greatest tool - it keeps us from following God whole-heartedly.

Cheers,
R.