Week 2: The Meltdown

Well, we have completed week 2 of the fast. It was an up and down week.

Monday was almost surreal. After Brenda left for her fitness class, the girls and I had a very nice spaghetti dinner. We laughed and giggled and just plain had fun. After dinner I got on the computer and found an online radio broadcast of a hockey game to listen to while I did the dishes. The girls (you probably should be sitting down for this) went into the living room and TURNED ON THE CLASSICAL MUSIC RADIO STATION (I'm NOT kidding). Corinna lay down on the couch because she was tired, and Cecily proceeded to read to her little sister for over half an hour.

I finished the dishes and walked into the living room. When I saw the girls I stopped and looked around expecting to hear Rod Serling say, "You are traveling through another dimension...the Twilight Zone". I honestly sat down in my chair and just enjoyed watching them for the next ten minutes. Then they got ready for bed and I read to them (Where the Sidewalk Ends). It was wonderful.

Later in the week Brenda called and canceled the TV satellite dish because we simply can no longer afford it with her only working as a substitute teacher. We told the girls about it on Friday morning before school and explained that, when we do start watching some TV again, we would not have the satellite which means none of their favorite channels. It was taken remarkably well by both of them -- or so I thought.

It was when Brenda and the girls arrived home from school that the idea finally sunk in to sweet Corinna's mind; an absolute meltdown fit for the ages ensued. This pint-sized nuclear bomb went off! She started by screaming, crying, then stomped into her bedroom, kicking toys and clothes out of the way as she entered (their room often resembles the forbidden cave of squalor). Then she had to go potty, so she stomped into the bathroom, kicked the bathtub as she sat on the toilet, then pounded on the sink with her little fists after she was done. My first question to Brenda was, "And did you let this go on?" She didn't. My second question was, "Did you get it on video?". She didn't.

Brenda had been telling Corinna to control herself all along, but after pounding on the sink it was time for them to sit down and talk. Brenda talked to her about controlling her anger and they prayed, asking Jesus to help Corinna calm down. Then they went into the living room to color for a while. After about thirty minutes Corinna proclaimed, "Hey, Mommy! It worked! I'm not mad anymore!"

I have no doubt in my mind that we were led into this fast by God. I see everyday how He is blessing it.

TV fast -- Week 1

We have completed our first week of what we are calling our TV fast. Brenda and I decided about a month ago that our family would forgo any and all television in the house starting with the day after Easter thru the last day of the school year, May 28. We prayed about it and really felt it was something God has blessed. Our reasoning is that the "Idiot Box" (as my Dad calls it) has become a constant source of aggravation and tension; as well as a GINORMOUS time waster and cause of procrastination. So, no TV (no videos, no movies, no sports, no SpongeBob, no nothing) for six weeks.

I understand that there are those in the world who would consider this cruel treatment; that we are depriving our children one of their basic human rights. But it is most likely those same people consider SpongeBob Squarepants to be educational programming -- so their opinions are not to be considered. Nothing bad can come from going without TV for a few weeks.

We had let the girls in on it a full two weeks before it started. There was the initial weeping and gnashing of teeth, (one of them even curled up into a fetal position and cried) but they accepted it -- until Easter day. That's when they proceeded to panic. Cecily even got up out of bed on Sunday night and told us she "just couldn't take it" if we didn't watch TV. Our response was, "That attitude is EXACTLY why we ware turning it off. Now go to bed!"

Well, believe it or not, the idiot box has stayed off for the entire first week -- and the girls have not melted or gone insane. The house has been amazingly peaceful; Cecily has finished her homework each night; there is much less arguing and fussing in general. Remarkably, since we quite often listen to the local NPR station from Ball State University, the girls have actually discovered the beauty of classical music -- particularly Beethovan. Corinna loes to stand in front of us and pretend to conduct while Brenda and I play pretend instruments. Wow!! God REALLY performed a miracle!!

I don't know if everything will go as smoothly in the coming weeks, but I know that we are sticking to it. I have no doubt that God will continue to bless our family as we spend less time turning off our brains and more time enjoying one another.

More later.

God spoke to me.

I mentioned that God spoke a word to me during our time at the Garden Tomb. But I have to preface it with an explanation (I'd use the word "brief" but you all know that is not possible with me).

Our men's group at church has been studying about being ready for God's great adventure of life. One of the people we focused on was Caleb -- one of the 12 spies to go into the promised land and the only one to stand with Joshua to say they should go in. Because of Caleb's faith, God promised him he would make it to the promised land. Forty-five years later, when Caleb was eighty-five years old, God not only fulfilled his promise to Caleb but He blessed Caleb and his tribe to take Hebron -- the good high ground -- from the giants known as the Anakites.
God has continually led me back to Caleb in the past several months. His faith and integrity have been an inspiration to me.

Now, fast forward to the Garden Tomb: After we had finished communion, we began singing a few songs. I mentioned earlier how exhausted we all were. I was cranky and just wanted to get back to the hotel for a fifteen minute nap before leaving for the evening concert. Even when we were given the opportunity to share if God was speaking to us my thoughts were, "Please, can we just get this over with?"

We sang another hymn and I was suddenly enveloped by the Holy Spirit. It hit me almost as if a rushing wind came through the alcove where we were sitting. In the middle of the song I crumbled, unable to sing or do anything other than bury my face in my hands and weep.

Gos spoke to me in that moment in His still, small voice. His voice was meek and tender but all the time filled with the power and authority of the Almighty God. He filled my heart with these words, "Be faithful. You will take the high ground for me." Overwhelming is the only word that describes that moment. I knew immediately that he meant both Brenda and me in our ministry. It would not be the last time on the trip that I would feel humbled and unworthy in the presence of our Holy God.

I know the details of such a promise will only be revealed in God's time. I also know that it will require raw faith for Brenda and me to stay faithful to the call as we make our way. Just like Caleb, there will be times of wandering through the wilderness, and there will be times of battling giants.

Regardless of what the world or the enemy throws our way, God will be faithful to His promise. Brenda and I will be faithful -- and we will take the high ground!