Living Story Grace

Revisiting the true and sordid story of Jacob and his two wives, one sought after and the other detested, I am again astonished at the so-called heroes of the Bible. Tim Keller, in his book Counterfeit Gods, captures the dark center of idolatry in this history. (If you want the whole story, you can find it

“At this point in the story, many contemporary readers will be wondering: “Where are all the spiritual heroes in this story? Whom am I supposed to be emulating? What is the moral of the story?” The reason for our confusion is that we usually read the Bible as a series of disconnected stories, each with a “moral” for how we should live our lives. It is not. Rather, it comprises a single story, telling us how the human race got into its present condition, and how God through Jesus Christ has come and will come to put things right. In other words, the Bible doesn’t give us a god at the top of a moral ladder saying, “If you try hard to summon up your strength and live right, you can make it up!” Instead, the Bible repeatedly shows us weak people who don’t deserve God’s grace, don’t seek it, and don’t appreciate it even after they have received it. If that is the great biblical story arc into which every individual scriptural narrative fits, then what do we learn from this story? We learn that through all of life there runs a ground note of cosmic disappointment. You are never going to lead a wise life until you understand that. Jacob said, “If I can just get Rachel, everything will be okay.” And he goes to bed with the one who he thinks is Rachel, and literally, the Hebrew says, “in the morning, behold, it was Leah” (Genesis 29:25). One commentator noted about this verse, “This is a miniature of our disillusionment, experienced from Eden onwards.”

What does that mean? With all due respect to this woman (from whom we have much to learn), it means that no matter what we put our hopes in, in the morning, it is always Leah, never Rachel. Nobody has ever said this better than C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity: “Most people, if they have really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. The longings which arise in us when we first fall in love, or first think of some foreign country, or first take up some subject that excites us, are longings which no marriage, no travel, no learning, can really satisfy. I am not now speaking of what would be ordinarily called unsuccessful marriages, or holidays, or learned careers. I am speaking of the best possible ones. There was something we have grasped at, in that first moment of longing, which just fades away in the reality. I think everyone knows what I mean. The wife may be a good wife, and the hotels and scenery may have been excellent, and chemistry may be a very interesting job: but something has evaded us.”

A few weeks ago, after the first session of A Woman’s Story conference, I was introduced to a woman who told me, “I can think of six or seven of God’s ‘miraculous deeds’ I saw that day.” She was talking about when she ran the Boston marathon and was turned around at mile 25. Read her story here.

It is that time of year when many of us make plans, or as some dare to call them, resolutions. (I am wary of resolutions, because for me they tend to mean ‘something I will accomplish through MY determined will and human effort’ and something I will invariably fail to complete). That being said, it is a good time of year to mark our stories, to remember where we have been, think about where we are now, and consider where we are going. As we view what God has done in our lives through the year(s), some general themes will emerge and remind us of our purpose, as The Message puts it, “Go after love as if your life depended on it, because it does.” (I Cor. 14:1). And out of that and specific details, we may see specific purposes of love taking shape for the coming year and years.
Here are a few questions I am asking myself as this chapter of a new year begins. Try them yourself, and let me know where they take you.
1. What events have happened in my life and in my heart in the last year? What tragedy and/or redemption do I see?
2. Where am I now? Answer with emotional and spiritual responses and some specific circumstantial responses.
3. What might God have for me in the coming year or years? What new freedoms in Christ might I experience? Who are the people who will support and encourage me as I step into these hopes and dreams? How must I depend on the Holy Spirit to act in grace? How may God be glorified?
For more thoughts on our life’s purpose, check out

One of the most settling and centering things I do during Advent is to listen to and read lyrics of hymns that truly tell the story of the season. I found this beautiful rendition by the Civil Wars today.
Recipe for rest. 1.Read lyrics. 2.Listen and ponder. 3.Listen and thank God.

O Come O Come Emmanuel :Lyrics

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

12th C. Latin, author unknown

Yesterday, I enjoyed the odd (for me) privilege of sharing communion with two different bodies. The first was with my mom in a large Episcopal cathedral with all of the eloquence and majesty you might expect. (It also happened to be the church where almost 30 years ago My husband and I were married.) Later, I joined our two sons at the church we were members of even before our eldest was born. We’ve since moved to a different state, but he has just returned to live and work. Anyway (I discovered there is more here than I actually knew, which is one of the great perks of writing – hint, hint…). It made me think of a long ago discussion I had with Pastor Scotty Smith about re-membering. I’ll post the summary, and let me know if any of this makes you remember anything or re-member anyone!

When we remember, we also re-member. When we remember that redemption accomplished reconciliation for us, we rest in that reconciliation and we live toward reconciliation with friends and enemies. We remember that one day we will re-member with every tribe, tongue, nation, and people group for an eternal story of kingdom worship, and we work (yes, this is at least part of the ‘working out of salvation’ Philippians refers to) toward building that community now.

In remembrance we rest, and in remembrance we do. Because we remember what Christ has done for us, we drink his body and eat his blood. We do so to remember that we can rest from our labors to be acceptable in God’s sight. And in resting from our labors to be acceptable in his sight, we are freed to labor and love for the sake of spreading the good news of this kingdom to others. Wherever you are re-membering, do this in remembrance of the Lord our Savior, Jesus Christ.