March 24, 2009
You thought you were so great, perched high among the rocks, king of the mountain, thinking to yourself, 'Nobody can get to me! Nobody can touch me!' Think again. Even if, like an eagle, you hang out on a high cliff-face, Even if you build your nest in the stars, I'll bring you down to earth." God's sure Word. –Obadiah: 3-4
Two hours after my initial departure time on Friday, I arrived at Damon’s. We’re heading to Nashville where I was to issue a charge to student leaders at my alma mater. I could have flown; I would’ve been flying the friendly skies for two hours before I touched down “in the land of golden sunshine.” However, I decided to drive. It had been a while since the road and I communicated for a significant length of time. But I needed a partner- there was no way I could have (or wanted to) tackled those miles by myself. So a great friend and fellow alum got in the car with me and we headed out of North Carolina and into Tennessee. And boy did I need this trip! Have there ever been times where you needed to get away- for your own sanity? You needed to ask God some questions in surroundings that are not consistent with your everyday circumstances? You needed to laugh with a friend to know that everything is going to be okay…or be reminded that it already was? I was there!
There are times when everything is going well for us. Our jobs are stable and secure. Our relationships are healthy and whole. Our energy is optimal and productive. Our faith is strong and intentional. We’re doing fine. In these times, it can become so easy for us to lose sight of what (or who rather) is allowing these successes. So we cruise along, believing we are invincible or believing that specific scenarios won’t play out in our lives, and then BAM! It hits us; we’re slowed down. We’re not moving. We’ve been in the same position for what seems like forever and other people are getting the promotions. We make four steps forward in the quest to build the legacy that our kids will stand on and then the co-laborer does something, breaks our heart and sets us back six steps. We’ve been working out, getting in shape, losing consistent pounds each week and now haven’t lost anything in a month. We’ve desired and longed for this breakthrough but it has yet to materialize and now we feel forgotten. We have hit, what one of the panelists identified Saturday at the conference as, a plateau.
In a plateau, there’s little to no change and that’s what can become the most frustrating. However, as the panelist, there is a way to get out of them. You must eliminate excuses, recognize what’s fundamentally causing the plateau and approach it correctly. As he continued to deliver his point, he said sometimes we’re in a plateau because we’ve allowed the negative things said about us to become what we believe and, consequently, we lose momentum. And then, there are other times where God is trying to get us to shift our focus and priorities back on Him and what He wants us to do. Immediately after Mr. Davis from Cummings International said that, I laughed and said “Okay, God. I hear you.” Whether it’s a failed relationship, lost job, uncomfortable situation or all of the above, God is trying to get our attention. Immobility should force you to desire to be mobile again and, spiritually, that will come through conversations with the Father regarding His strategy. He does know best after all. I thought I was going to ride up to Nashville, talk to the “kids” (because I learned this weekend that the Class of 2004 is officially an old one), eat some Buffalo Express, hang with my friends, go to Born Again and relax. I am so thankful that God had other plans. The necessity of this trip helped to reveal lessons that are paramount to the next levels of my purpose and destiny. When He does a thing, He does it well.
One hour after my initial departure time on Sunday, I arrived at Damon’s (being on time is one of my New Year’s Commitments…be patient, it’s only March). We were heading back home. Having a day to fully process this trip and all it means, there will be more shared as this week progresses. But for now, embrace the fact that plateaus aren’t forever. Figure out why you are there and what you need to do to leave. Before I headed for Nashville, my mother said “You’re going there for something and I hope you get whatever it is.” When I was able to tell her “Ma- I got it”, I felt something. I was moving again.
©BirthRight, 2009
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