No more chains

Dani and I (Jimmy) are beginning to realize something. It's a necessary thing but often hidden in the noise. Like those pictures that got popular in the late 90's. You had to stare at it in a certain way in order to see the "3D" image emerge from the static white noise.  When you live in a certain place, not necessarily geographic, I'm speaking more circumstantially, you may start to believe that there are chains keeping you there. Something or someone or somehow you feel you need to stay where you are. It feels more like prison than it does like waiting. You feel that you have strings holding you down to that place or that circumstance.

I've heard a lot of Christian songs talking spiritually or metaphysically about chains - whether drug addiction or self hate or something of that nature - but this is different. It has been coming into view, the closer we look at our situation, the more we slow down, that there are no chains. They are all an illusion. If we really took that to heart and really lived in a present reality of it how would it change our approach to getting out of here? Not just geographically - though we are sure we do not want to live in New Jersey at all! - but circumstantially - how we approach making money, raising our family, keeping the joy and hope levels high and undiluted, pursuing our dreams of travel and art and music and ministry?

This is the main thing right now. Danielle wants to make journals and write poetry and write short stories and minister to girls with disordered eating. I want to sing and spread the good news of the finished works of the cross, the new creation message through music. I want to illustrate and write and make a living through music and creative means. I want my kids to know beauty and spontaneity and love and fellowship and grace. I want them to love without gender, social, ethnic boundaries in existence. We know we are not normal. We are not called to a normal life. We have to see these visions of ours come to life in a way that earns enough money to live.

I think it starts with realizing that there are not chains. Focusing in the midst of the static.