Recently
we have been reading through several books on spiritual disciplines, namely one
called "The Celebration of Discipline."  This
past week we were to talk about simplicity however we soon discovered that we
were not to discuss it but rather God wanted to literally teach us to Do
simplicity.  We have read a lot about the
direct commands Jesus gave to us and thought what if we actually started
walking like Jesus?  Take 1 John 2:4-6
literally.  The Novas Project has made a
few decisions and has begun to simplify-less food, less sleep, more prayer, more
time with God in solitude, more listening and more walking in the Spirit.  We aren't doing anything crazy- just pursuing
Jesus and getting rid of the rest.  I
have wondered before so many times, how do I do what Jesus asks, how do I hear
Him and how can I tell that what I hear is Him and not self orchestrated
direction?  I want to fight apathy and
thoughts that my efforts are sufficient but how do we actually walk in the
Spirit?  Here I am forced to stop and
listen. 

            We visited a prison a few weeks ago
and sat in on a church service.  People
wanted prayer and I had no idea what was going on, no reference for prayer
requests, no idea of the burdens they were carrying.  I felt this same thing during a hospital
visit; not knowing who to approach or what to say or how to pray and what
for.  I have to seek the Spirit and ask
for the compassion and sensitivity because during these visits I realized how helpless
I was standing on the corner outside the hospital  with ambulances whisking through and people
piled everywhere with no place to stay the night.  Little groups huddled there and others aiding
family members into the building. 
Compassion wells up inside me and I have nothing to do but pray.  What else can I do? What could I say that
would bring hope?  Completely vulnerable
and more exposed than the elderly lady shuffling around in her hardly
sufficient hospital gown I cry because my hearts aches and all this is just too
big for me.  The burdens here are too
heavy for me, I don't know what to say yet I am compelled by love and love will
stammer and stutter looking a  fool
rather than do nothing at all.  SO that
is what I did..I stuttered around and played my own game of Spanish
communication via charades.  I love God
because He always finds a way and somehow out of all the hand gestures and
sound effects I ended up making a wonderful friend.  Her name was Brenda, she was terribly shy and
understandably uncomfortable on the street at the time of day.  We talked together and laughed at my brother
John who seems to enjoy making a ninny of himself for the sake of a smile.  We traded handshakes and drew pictures in my
Bible and I thought perhaps someday she will remember hanging out with me
because at one point I looked at her and couldn't find a single shadow in her
eye of fear or despair as I had experience when we first met.  

These experiences get me thinking why do I
only step out and go for something when I am able to sum it up and say "great I
can Do this?"  I am getting tired of making
plans that are within my capabilities.  Jesus
did the impossible like healing the sick and casting out demons, feeding
thousands and prophesying.  That same
Spirit is in us too.  I don't want to
operate in the system we live in anymore. 
I don't know what I'm getting myself into exactly but I know Jesus
provides a novas (new way) and I don't want to be left behind.  

Lately I feel like this is what I have been
waiting for...it's like in the winter time when the city begins to settle in for
the night as snow is falling.  Blinds are
shutting and lights are flicked off, there is a hush; yet in the distance a
fleet of thousands approach in silence. 
You can sense horses' hooves and the fluttering of wings; every creature
turns their head, trees make a clearing and waters remain in one place as they
pass in the night.  At last they reach
the city and every trumpet is blasted and blown.  Then there are those who have been sitting in
their living rooms waiting and ready and at this moment the scrambling
begins.  I cannot move fast enough
gathering my coat and my boots and my hat. 
I look like Roger form 101 Dalmatians or Milo Thatch from Disney's Atlantis
sprawling everywhere with my body going one direction and my limbs another,
glasses flying off and eyes wide all in efforts to get out the door faster than
humanly possible (and in these cases faster than possible for Disney as well).  All because this whole thing is a big deal,
and it's about time.  

-jenessa lynn