The Thrash Effect – Part II
According to Ashton Kutcher, thrash is disruptive in nature.
In the early days of Uganda Orphans Fund, you could say I felt thrashed, but not in the best sense of that word. My husband had made a giant leap. We were in the midst of raising teenagers, and I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the prospect of him spending weeks, maybe months in Africa.
I looked up the word “thrash” and found six definitions. One said thrash means to toss or move about in an uncontrolled or restless way. You could say that fit. Duncan moved quickly once called to Africa, but I needed time to process. What would this change look like? How would our family be affected? Things felt nebulous, and I needed a clear sense of direction. With a passport in his back pocket, and a Yellow Fever vaccination in his bloodstream, Duncan was ready for a wild-eyed adventure in Africa. I wanted a map, an itinerary, and a satellite phone. Inevitably, it brought our differences to the forefront and that was the disruptive part. You couldn’t meet two people more vastly opposite.
When God calls someone to work in a far-off land, you’d think He’d give the same call to the spouse. In our case, that did not happen. While I feel a deep compassion for orphans in Africa, I am not wired for travel and adventure of that kind. I need quiet spaces. I hang out with cats and tomato plants. And, God was urging me to write. Two people, called to be “one” in marriage, on two completely different roads. How would that work?
I don’t know how long you’ve been around God, but in my experience, He tends to shake everything that can be shaken, so that what remains is unshakable. I like certainty and stable ground. Left to myself, I tend to live within the realm of self-sufficiency. In some ways, I can live the good-Christian-life without God, and this is a bad thing because it’s just being religious.
Ultimately, my need for order, predictability and risk management is antithetical to the life of faith. Faith is going out, not knowing where you’re going, knowing only Who you’re following. Faith is not relying on your own understanding and natural strengths. Faith itself is disruptive. But, God is good all the time and part of His wisdom is to allow wrecking changes. He takes us to the place where we have a choice to play it safe, or grow into a new level of faith, relationship, and fruitfulness.
Interestingly, a sixth definition of thrash has to do with the movement of sailing a boat against the tide. In real life, I have had this experience in Puget Sound, at night no less. I felt the opposing forces and wondered what would be stronger in the end–the wind or the tide? In our life, would the tide of sweeping change and different callings capsize our life? Or would the winds of the Holy Spirit overpower the tide and take us in a new direction, bringing new levels of faith, and greater intimacy in marriage? It wouldn’t be easy—thrash never is—but we aren’t shipwrecked today.
Is God shaking your world so that what remains will be unshakable? Does this kind of thrash mix with your idea of a loving God?
I guess when I think of thrash, there could be good or bad, but the kind of thrash that Daddy releases always produces life. That’s the kind of thrash I want, though sometimes it might feel scary or uncomfortable. If thrash can be just disruptive…I don’t think I’m into that. But our Good Father produces a thrash that is eternal. He draws us into a thrash that builds His Kingdom, no matter how good or bad it may seem to us. For me personally, I thought saying yes to Jesus would give me a great marriage and wonderful kids. I have both. But Father isn’t finished with me yet. He doesn’t just want me to believe in Him so my time down here is comfortable, and I can be a blessing to others. He coaxes me into taking risks, walking in faith which requires doing. That shakes me up. If you are standing close to me you may feel the shaking too. I want to grow to like it. I’m not there yet, but I press on…
Hmm… going against the tide. That causes waves. Makes it difficult, even for those around you. I can definitely see how that’s happened for me, probably you and Duncan as well. Some people tend to get tossed when we’re committed to that kind of godly thrash. But it’s amazing how it’s played out so far in my experience. You find out quickly who is contradictory to the different way you’re called, and who is complementary. But I tend to enjoy the shaking. There are adventures to be had. And yet, I can often seek adventures of my own and end up shaken. When I consider my wife’s wisdom, there’s often an unshakable quality to all that I end up pursuing. And she doesn’t always go with me either. And we both learn some great things in the process.
Susan, I love your honesty. Yes, I can certainly identify with thrashing as defined by “tossing about”. I think God has ways of getting us to focus on Him, and sometimes it’s unsettling. There are things He wants us to release, and we resist. But in my experience, blessings follow.
I’m thankful He is also the God who can calm seas and give peace. He knows what we need and when.
True my bru!!When we think of submitting to the Lordship of Jesus, we must not think in terms of faleln earthly lords and kings…. He is entirely different. Submitting to or obeying God is submitting/subjecting ourselves to His Goodness over every area of our lives. Under His Lordship, there are no burdens…. and an easy yolk. How often it is so difficult to just rest beneath such undeserved favor!!…. This is the obedience required by our Good God: that we would let His Favor invade our entire lives and allow Him to entirely express His love to each of us!