Search for the Light—Even in Your Chaos Friend
The Chaos Friend
I’m sitting in a folding chair in a big room. The speakers for the next Women’s Conference are being announced.
Through the long list of names, I only hear one name I recognize.
It is the one I would have least expected.
It is my chaos friend.
Her life, a series of hard circumstances and scarcity, began with learning disabilities as a child. Had she been in a different family at a different time, the disabilities might have been addressed. The poverty might not have been inevitable.
But instead, she bears the false stigma of “slowness,” a coinciding speech impediment, and a lifetime (so far) of lack. She’s had many ups and downs, actually more downs than ups, if you’re counting.
And they are inviting her to speak?
Do Not Gloat
I wake up. It was all a dream. The sunlight is streaming through my window.
But even in the light of day, even now weeks later, the dream sticks with me.
And the shock is wearing off.
I’ve known this friend for a few years. I’ve seen her get in some sticky jams. (I’ve even judged her for a few of them. Sigh. Shame on me.)
But I’ve also seen her bounce back time and again.
She lives rough, but she keeps moving forward. She endures hard breaks, but she keeps smiling. She leaves trails of mistakes, but she remains hopeful.
And I see it now.
Why, yes, she would make an excellent women’s conference speaker!
Despite her choices causing me frustration at times, she is a light in my life. She is another angle of God for me. She has as much of the divine in her as everyone else. She loves me. And I love her.
She walks in God’s light as far as her feet will carry her.
She exemplifies this truth:
“Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.”
Micah 7:8
Search for Light
As I prepare to spend time with God in 1 John 1 for 6 weeks this fall (“God is light” and “Walk in the light” and “He is faithful“), I hope to remember my friend with light, even in the midst of her often reckless lifestyle.
Perhaps what was only a nighttime dream in my sleep could become a reality for her in our wakefulness.
What we dream in the dark can come to life in the light.
Sometimes it’s hard to see the light. But the light is always here.
God is always shining. Even when our vision gets too cloudy to notice his brightness.
I want to see the light in dark spaces. I want to notice more light in already bright spaces.
- Search for the light.
- Greet the light.
- Touch the light.
The 1 John 1 “Touch the Light” challenge resources are available beginning today. . You’ll also receive one email per week during the challenge with additional resources for 6 weeks, beginning September 12. Whether you want to read, memorize, meditate, or study his light this fall, you’ll discover a brighter world in the presence of God.
Do you have a chaos friend that shows you God, too? Thank God for them today. Share in the comments.
I’m linking up at these blog parties
Such an “eye-opening” dream, Lisa! Looking forward to the coming challenge.
Blessings!
I’m excited about 1 John 1 too, Martha. Glad you’ll be with us! I constantly need to have my eyes opened to more clearly see God at work in the world and each other.
Got my email today and SO looking forward to this challenge!
Yippee! I’ll look forward to the wisdom you’ll bring to our challenge, Michele!
Your dream reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect to help others. Whether in a speech or just in life. All of us can be a light to someone.
Exactly, Theresa. It’s a message that I can’t shake (and that I don’t want to shake!). God doesn’t requirement perfection from us; just willingness and heart.
Interesting post. I thought when you started the chaos freind was inside you. I think we are all that chaos friend at times. And maybe we need to be kinder to that part of us. #AnythingGoes
Yes! I should have wound back around to that point, Lydia, that ALL of us are the chaos friend at times (or even all the time?). I feel I’ve been a chaos friend often through the years, and I’m glad my friends didn’t give up on me. And also yes to being kinder to ourselves as that friend too. Thanks for sharing these great insights.
It’s amazing how some people can walk calmly through the chaos. In so doing, they remind us of the One who faithfully walks each step with us.
Exactly. My friend is great at staying in the moment too. I keep learning lessons from her. We all have so much to learn from each other. So grateful God doesn’t ever leave us without other people.
It can be so hard to see light in others sometimes. I love this.
I agree, Lauren. Some people radiate light so brilliantly but others we really have to search to find it.
God dreams in our sleep speak loud in our lives. Your dream made me think that sometimes we need people who seem so out-of-the-box or maybe they are out-of-our-box living who can minister to people we can’t reach – or maybe they are there to humble us and show us how to love more selflessly – and to take the pre-conceived lenses off our eyes to see others how God sees them. They make us uncomfortable – and if we dare, make us love better! I love your dream, Lisa! God spoke a book’s worth of wisdom in that dream! Thank you so much for sharing!
Definitely this, all of this, Maryleigh. I didn’t realize how much I needed this particular friend until she had been in my life a few years. She brings to light things I had never realized before. Things about her, about God, about me, about poverty, about hardships, on and on the things she is teaching me. I thank God for her!
Interesting idea. Almost like a writer writing to a specific reader , knowing her felt need or lifting someone up in intercessory prayer. Love this. I never heard the phrase before – chaos friend – made me smile to be honest. I do have friends always surrounded by drama. – wears me out at times. I guess they are chaos friends. I have a new name for them! And a mission to pray for them. Thanks Lisa
Yes, drama and chaos – I equate those two terms. It is very wearing indeed to even watch from the sidelines. I can’t imagine how tiring it would be to live in the middle of the hurricane. A mission to pray for them, yes Jean. Thank you.
Eye-opening perspective, Lisa, “Perhaps what was only a nighttime dream in my sleep could become a reality for her in our wakefulness. What we dream in the dark can come to life in the light. Sometimes it’s hard to see the light. But the light is always here. God is always shining.”
Chaos friend is an interesting name, but I think it is more endearing than drama queen which is the term I’ve heard. I appreciate that God revealed that she falls forward and inspires through her perseverance.
I agree with you, “I want to see the light in dark spaces.” I want to recognize the gold currently capsuled in the the rough rock, and believe God can reveal the valuable gold within.
Digging deep for the valuable gold in others doesn’t always come easily or quickly with me. But I’m thankful that God has done that with me so I want to do that for others. Lord, help us!