The Metamorphyx Journey: Part II
The Metamorphyx Journey: Part II
From Life Experience to Life Change
Metamorphyx: Embracing Life Experience, Life Change, and Life Purpose. I confess that the book title conceals a sneaky play on words. Some readers with a dubious eye ask, “What exactly do you mean by embracing life experience and life change?” Let’s start there as we continue to explore the pathways on The Metamorphyx Journey.
Life Experience encompasses all aspects and timeframes of daily living . . . the rearview mirror of adolescence, high school, and college; the jubilation of one’s first venture to Disney World; the delights of children, birthdays, holidays, and parenting; exciting career challenges and family growth. But Life Experience also incorporates the grave hazards and disappointments that challenge our personal and family survival; life and death issues like prostate or breast cancer; the fight with a permanent disability, a tragic car accident, betrayal by a friend or marriage partner, the curse of alcoholism or drug addiction . . . and the finality of a divorce or funeral.
Embracing life experience often boils down to a single critical premise. Do I believe (and trust!) that I am Living Under God’s Sovereignty? In life application terms that means a God who ultimately has a plan and purpose for my life! If so, then I must embrace—i.e., “hug,” accept, adopt, celebrate and oftentimes, persevere within that stage of life as an active and committed player.
On a more dismal note, I can also choose to believe that God is engaged in a titanic battle to maintain his grip on the world he created . . . but a world that is nonetheless spinning wildly out of control. In that case, I must opt to be the “master of my fate . . . and the captain of my ship,” as William Henley’s edgy poem, Invictus, implies.
Can you accept that God’s sovereignty is an uncompromising binary proposition, much like your kitchen light switch? It’s either fully ON or OFF; there is no half-ON position. Similarly, God is either completely in control . . . or he is not. If one random particle in his universe takes its own pathway, God cannot be deemed to be “sovereignly” in control.
These two views present a critical distinction in our view of Life Experience. If we reject God’s sovereignty, we must also reject key teachings of the Bible. The first to go overboard comes from the mouth of Jesus and it’s plainly evident in our daily lives. “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33). Here, Jesus is our hope-giver and reality-teller. Yes, the world is corrupt, but Jesus has something better for us.
The second truth to go is Romans 8:28. “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” For if all things do not work together for some good—granting that we may not discover that “good” in our current circumstances—then why should we trust in what Jesus says and God’s sovereignty?
Shifting the The Metamorphyx Journey focus for a moment, let’s consider the obvious and compelling progression from Life Experience to Life Change (and Living Life as a Life Learner). As God’s handiwork, we are men and women uniquely fashioned to seek wisdom and greater knowledge of our planet, each other, our history, our God . . . and our life purpose. The apostle Paul gives us that as a mandate for life change, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” (Romans 12:2). Our mind—that marvelously malleable material in our human design—is the control center for spiritual and behavioral life change.
One of the great truths of The Metamorphyx Journey is this: we are each capable of becoming something tomorrow that today we are not! We possess a God-enabled capacity to grow in our faith and love for one another, to transform our character, to become more compassionate and generous, to forgive and give thanks, to confess our mistakes, to demonstrate humility, exhibit patience . . . and to glorify God. Each of these attributes can be acquired on the Life Change pathway of life.
Who can guide us in the life change process? Why not Jesus, who in his own words said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,” (Matt 11:29). In today’s upside-down world, who would possibly refuse more rest for their souls?
But if the progression from Life Experience to Life Change is so obvious and compelling, as I note above, why the puzzling “red” arrow in that transition (see the The Metamorphyx Journey graphic)?
Simply this. A hasty “rush” to Life Change can be catastrophic without faith and the wisdom of Life Purpose Contemplation—not all life change is positive and grounded in biblical wisdom! Seeds of victimhood, retaliation, and bitterness can easily take root when Life Experience offers up harsh lessons of life.
Stay tuned. That will be the starting point of The Metamorphyx Journey—Part III.
On the pathway . . . in the process,
Tom
”If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him,” (James 1:5)
