Monday, September 24, 2012

The Magic Life


I spent the last four days in a place of magic. It was a place where song and laughter flowed as freely as spring rain, where words and wit flipped and tripped and eyes sparkled, where food was art that enriched all the senses. It was a place where the Spirit of the Great Magician hovered, warming us with His presence.

It was a place I entered with trepidation. The dark magic of fear and self-focus taunted me with lies: "You won't fit in like you think you will. That anticipation you feel now? It's just headed for a crash." I had to draw the Sword of Truth to fight off this darkness and to remember that I was loved by the Great Magician no matter what I discovered in this place. I knew that most of all I wanted to experience the magic the He had for me, not concoct some mediocre potion of my own dreams. And Truth won, and dark magic was defeated, and joy reigned.

And then it was time to come home.

But the magic did not disappear.


I shouldn’t have been surprised. Why do I think the Great Magician only holds sway in one lovely corner of the world? There is magic wherever I go. There was magic in the conversation I had with a college student on the plane ride home—a fellow Truth-follower who saw with clarity the joy of trusting the Great Magician. There was magic in the simple joy of opening the back of our minivan and seeing the glowing smiles and golden hair of my daughters, in the thrill of my son’s squeal of delight, and in the richness of my husband’s kiss. There was magic when I learned that though my sister’s flight home was delayed she dined with new friends, and didn't sit alone for all of those hours.

This morning I still saw the magic. I could see the Magician’s touch in my response to a cranky son who didn’t know what to do with Mommy now that she had come home. I relished the beauty of our walk to school with the windswept sky that stretched wide over a green field, and I reveled in the brisk air that tickled my nose. The magic of a tractor mower enchanted my son, while my girls and I breathed deep the scent of mown grass. There were friends to greet, and the world was overflowing.

It was harder to find the magic this evening. Tempers flared—including mine—but I was still able to step back and remember. The Great Magician hadn’t left. I could still see His work if I looked. I held out my hand to my kids and asked, “What is this made of?” Distraction, wonder. The Magician was still speaking and we lived and breathed.

I am sure that in the days to come I will have many moments when I forget that I live amidst this good, good magic. I hope that in those moments I will take the time to step back and look and really see.

And if all else fails, my children will remind me that a dinosaur named Henley lives in the creek by the school, the evil giant Chompchucks lurks in our neighborhood, and if I’m not careful, the lava between the sidewalk cracks may explode on me.

After the magic I saw last weekend I wouldn’t be surprised if even this were true.

12 comments:

  1. So glad it was Magical for you! Looking forward to hearing more!

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  2. Loren, this is beautiful! Love it. I feel the magic too.

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    1. Thanks Jen! Hope you're still getting tastes of magic this week.

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  3. Wonderful post. God truly is the Great Magician. And he gives so much that beautiful and good and joyful. So glad you got to go.

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    1. Thanks Sally. I'm praying I'll be able to keep "seeing" this. It's hard once one's back in the trenches.

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  4. Loren - I felt this very same thing. Rather than 'leaving behind', I felt like I 'brought home'. And loved finally meeting you :)

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    1. I know I've said it, but so good to finally meet you, too, Julie. I'm praying this week is more outpouring for you in a good way.

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  5. Anonymous7:59 AM

    Way to bring it home. Watch out for those sidewalk cracks; I've been burned before. :)

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    1. You'd be amazed at their power. Just ask my five-year-old :) .

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  6. Hi there,
    You don't know me. Nor I you (unless you count the blog I just read...). I am looking into going to Hutchmoot this year as a 20-year old college student with a heart that the King is awakening to Him in a way that I've not experienced before. Thanks for feeding the hunger of mine. :) Would you mind if we connected? I'd love to hear more about your time last year? My e-mail is mebryant2009@gmail.com. And my name is Miranda. Hope we can chat soon.
    Joyfully His,
    Miranda

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