Interesting analogy to say the lion Himself which implies that in the Lion tamer expression, the lion is the lord and what makes the lion tamer brave is dealing with something more powerful and unpredictable, so it may just be that in grief, the most difficult and unpredictable but also powerful part is wrestling with spirituality, one that you may feel like perhaps deserted you or is against you like the lion.
Wow. Yes. An incredible insight, JJ! You are So right. The lion tamer is trying to tame the wild thing --- the lion. But then when I stretch the metaphor, God becomes the wild thing and is suddenly the way to healing. A twist.
I think that it's true of my journey somehow. The nature of our human experience is wild -- much is beyond our control and major things, good and bad, will happen to us. When you're 'with' God, the lion, you're with the power that created all of it, the author of it, and He assures us we are ultimately safe with Him, we'll be ultimately restored and healed. He will deliver us to freedom and safety eternally (although we're also told suffering will be central to what happens here...)
But I think when one tries to act as the lion tamer, trying to manage and white knuckle our way through the hard things and seasons, control outcomes, we might end up just wasting precious time and energy. Lions cannot be tamed.
This is a day-to-day tension for me! It was definitely highlighted in that season because of the angst and deep sorrow I felt after Aunt Lis died (and I simply could not believe all that happened to her was God's will...another discussion!) but I continue to struggle with how to find the Lion, Him, in every circumstance. A life's work. God is always, always there. Even in the most mundane, frustrating, inane, stupid-seeming setbacks and the deepest, most tragic pain.
I love your mind for the deepest questions, JJ!! XOXO
"As we attempt to address our losses and pain and try to metabolize them, and in some way build up the patience it requires to suffer them well, that is with hope, it’s true, we’ll need what Woolf called the courage of a lion tamer.
Or, as my counselor wisely suggested, we need the lion Himself." Amen - thank you for this Kara.
Interesting analogy to say the lion Himself which implies that in the Lion tamer expression, the lion is the lord and what makes the lion tamer brave is dealing with something more powerful and unpredictable, so it may just be that in grief, the most difficult and unpredictable but also powerful part is wrestling with spirituality, one that you may feel like perhaps deserted you or is against you like the lion.
Wow. Yes. An incredible insight, JJ! You are So right. The lion tamer is trying to tame the wild thing --- the lion. But then when I stretch the metaphor, God becomes the wild thing and is suddenly the way to healing. A twist.
I think that it's true of my journey somehow. The nature of our human experience is wild -- much is beyond our control and major things, good and bad, will happen to us. When you're 'with' God, the lion, you're with the power that created all of it, the author of it, and He assures us we are ultimately safe with Him, we'll be ultimately restored and healed. He will deliver us to freedom and safety eternally (although we're also told suffering will be central to what happens here...)
But I think when one tries to act as the lion tamer, trying to manage and white knuckle our way through the hard things and seasons, control outcomes, we might end up just wasting precious time and energy. Lions cannot be tamed.
This is a day-to-day tension for me! It was definitely highlighted in that season because of the angst and deep sorrow I felt after Aunt Lis died (and I simply could not believe all that happened to her was God's will...another discussion!) but I continue to struggle with how to find the Lion, Him, in every circumstance. A life's work. God is always, always there. Even in the most mundane, frustrating, inane, stupid-seeming setbacks and the deepest, most tragic pain.
I love your mind for the deepest questions, JJ!! XOXO
y e s ❤️🩹❤️
"As we attempt to address our losses and pain and try to metabolize them, and in some way build up the patience it requires to suffer them well, that is with hope, it’s true, we’ll need what Woolf called the courage of a lion tamer.
Or, as my counselor wisely suggested, we need the lion Himself." Amen - thank you for this Kara.