Mr Formerly

The question spilled off the tongue of the woman like it had so many other tongues so many times before but this time it sounded different to the man sitting across the table. He’d heard this question so many times before and his answer was packaged, prepared and required no thought.
“What are you doing now?”
But this time something in his brain kicked in as if a light had come on and the waves in which he’d floated on for so many months, had finally calmed enough for him to see the difference.
He was Mr. Formerly.
As his thoughts poured over what was, what is and what is to come a spark missing for so long began to see a grand designed forming in the fact that he was becoming Mr. Formerly.
His life was becoming less about what he was and more about what he was becoming.
The man was formerly a Television News Anchor, formerly a guy who went to a building to find God, formerly a politician, and formerly a man looking to be useful to God.
His carefully prepared statement when asked: “What are you doing now?” no longer worked.
Now the answer had become something like this.

“I spend more time taking in great big giant breaths of air. My mind takes time to think of what words mean rather than what someone meant by their words. Coffee tastes better and a conversation with a friend takes longer. Friends are no longer people I understand but people willing to share depth in exchange for surface talk. A career is something I think little of rather than possessing my secret thoughts of being seen as relevant or important. I see how much my son’s have grown up and how little time they spend at home and understand that soon they won’t live here anymore. I see their future success in terms of relationships and standing up for people rather than what they take in college or who they become to the world. My wife is more beautiful than I remember. She stands closer to me than I thought she would. Confusion is something we both deal with and our understanding of God is so different and that’s okay.
In the book of Isaiah 42:9 it says; Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare.
In Isaiah 43:18 it says; do not remember the former things nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing.
In Revelations 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
I used to try to figure out “The New Thing.” I don’t do that anymore which may mean I’m closer than I think.

No Comments

• 
  Tanya Hackett May 27, 2009 at 7:04 am

  Rick, well spoken. I cannot think of anything else to say, except that this post really resonated with my spirit. Have a great day!!
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  Rick Dancer May 27, 2009 at 6:39 pm

  It’s funny. I look at the picture with my arms folded and I think “who is that guy?” The one on the campaign, with the sign is something I felt okay about. The one with my wife, taken a week ago, seems like Me.
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  Jon May 27, 2009 at 8:24 pm

  Rick-
  Great thoughts–I think. I have 16 work days left between now and June 30th. I still feel like I am jumping off a pier. It is clear there are many opportunities and I am trying to be more inventive in opening previously closed doors. That said, there is this thing about having a salary and eating. Do you know anyone looking for a spectacular house with Umpqua riverfront?

  Jon