In the Olive Press with Jesus {part three: An Edited Life}

“In my Father’s house… ” –John 14:2
 

 

In my father’s house. A good place to edit a life.

I went home to my father’s (and my mother’s) house this past week to do just that … some editing work. Their lives are less crowded than mine, less noisy and not constrained by an overly pressing agenda. Their house helps me to breathe, and every now and again I need to take a breath. A long, deep, in-and-out, out-and-in, soul-filled pause.

So, I packed my bags, my manuscript and my heart, and made the seventy mile trek northward to land safely at their front door. Once inside, I got down to the business of breathing. On the agenda? Nothing, just everything I needed it to be. And in between a stop at the jewelry store, dinner around a table, and a morning coffee at their favorite gathering place, I had some time to sit beneath a chandelier that’s illuminated their kitchen table in four different houses. My parents carry it with them every time they move; it keeps them connected to their history. It keeps me connected as well. With the light comes a family’s history—a long record of growing up around a kitchen table in my father’s house. Oh the memories it has accumulated over the years! Stories filled with laughter, tears, earnest discussions, and prayers.

That light serves as a witness to my history. I cannot sit beneath it without feeling a sense of obligation to it. There’s an honesty required of me, an authenticity expected of me if I’m going to use it as an avenue to do some editing work. I cannot not be me in my father’s house and beneath my father’s light. It’s just the place where I do some of my best work.

As it is with my father’s house, so it is with my Father’s house. A good place to edit a life.

God’s house, God’s heart is not crowded with an agenda. His home is a place where I can breathe. The Light is good there, so brilliant and so discerning that I cannot hide my true self from him. The Light moves with God wherever he goes. It keeps him connected to his history; keeps me connected as well. The memories he has collected over the years—the laughter, tears, earnest discussions, and prayers? Well, heaven holds the witness of them all. One day soon, I’ll see them in living color, but until then, I’ll keep to the business of personal editing—body, heart, and soul edits. The kind of authentic critiquing and tweaking of a life that writes a better story.

Life edits are difficult. Sometimes the revisions are brutal, sometimes less obtrusive. The Light that hangs over our editing tables cannot tell a lie. The Light reveals the raw truth about the work that’s been done so far and where some changes need to be made. The Light isn’t here to frighten us, shame us, or kill us; the Light is here to enliven us and to remind us that fear, shame, and death have already been conquered by the cross. The Light is here to fit us for heaven—to prepare us for the place that is being prepared for us by our Father.

I want an edited life, friends. A Light-shaped and critiqued life that writes a good story and that leaves a good witness. I won’t get that on my own; neither will you. Edited lives belong to those who are willing to make the pilgrimage to the Father’s house, sit beneath a Father’s light, and expose the manuscript to the Father’s pen. How grateful I am for the table of grace, the chair of intention, and the Light of inspection that allow me the great privilege of soul edits! Long, deep, in-and-out, out-and-in, breaths with Jesus that fill my lungs with the eternal witness of heaven.

In my Father’s house. Indeed, a good and gracious place to edit a life. He is where you’ll find me this week. As always…

Peace for the journey,
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PS: There are many great avenues for drawing closer to Jesus in this Lenten season. I’d like to highlight Nancy Douglas’s study “Draw Me Near”, now available with podcasts at her blog. Check it out! You won’t be disappointed. She’s an awesome Bible teacher and friend for the journey.

17 Responses to In the Olive Press with Jesus {part three: An Edited Life}

  1. He provides the courage, reinstates respect and woos us to His Love…no Greater than His is available anywhere else. Praying we each earnestly sit, listen and talk with Him throughout this Lenten period.

  2. I love the comparisons you made, Elaine, between the trip to your parents' home and their lamp for some editing and to our Heavenly Father and His light. Thanks for the beautiful reminder that His light is not here to frighten us, shame us, or kill us but to enliven us and fit us for heaven. So many wonderful truths. Such a wonderful Father!

  3. Elaine,

    I have been catching up reading your posts on Lent season…I so want to walk in the Light for the rest of my days as He is in the Light…

    Blessings to you today,

    katiegfromtennessee

  4. As always your posts make me struggle to not cry. I love the beauty in this one and the peace you have found in your Father's light–both fathers.

  5. I truly need "A long, deep, in-and-out, out-and-in, soul-filled pause" in my life right now !! But I can NEVER remember in my whole life the privilege of having a place to do that! Seems like I'm always the one who has to be responsible for everyone else and I can never just "get away" on my own!

  6. I Loved this. I loved how you compared the light and your father's home to the Father's light and home. Beautiful.

    Although we didn't take it with us, when my Nanny did leave us and go "home," the light in the picture reminds me of one she had in her kitchen. thanks for sharing and allowing my own set of memories flow today.

  7. Wow! I could sense the peace at your parent's table. Wondering where that place is for me… and wanting to sit in His Light. Praying for you, friend.

  8. wifeforthejourney:

    "An edited life" sounds like just what I need today. I feel raw and piled up inside; lots of material, little rhyme and reason. I feel overwhelmed; paralyzed; in need of a safe place to sort out what matters most from what matters very little.

    Glad to have you to help point me to my heavenly Father's table – time to let Him go to work on all of me!

    Love,

    Billy

  9. Life edits are so painful and they seem to never stop…I am ready for a little retreat myself friend.

    I'm also ready foryour next book!!!

    Living Out Loud~Pamela

  10. So full of wisdom and beauty. I love the comparisons as well. You write so beautifully and I'm grateful to be able to learn from you.

  11. Loved every bit of this Elaine. As as writer it hit home in many ways. Love how you engrained the lesson on spiritual edits … the most important of all!

  12. I have a friend who is a chef who insists that the table is the most important piece of furniture in the house. Your parents' chandelier is a testament to that.Some of the most important work of life takes place around that table: sharing, laughing, nourishing…and, yes, even editing ;). I'm so glad for the refuge of your parent's home. What a gift to always have a place to retreat to.

    Been thinking of you, my friend. You are always in my prayers.

  13. Oh Elaine, that is just beautiful…wonderful thoughts here, and I so enjoy the lenten series, I can see where you get your writing gift! Love and blessings, Lori

  14. Beautiful analogy. To be edited in my faith walk is the most awesome privilege, though painful along the way. Love you, my friend.

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