Daring to be Restless

I’ve been reading Captivating again, I admit it.   This book, written by John and Stasi Eldredge has spoken to my heart over and over again about what it means to be a woman of God, to be lost in the thrill of God’s plan for me, to walk in the fullness of who He designed me to be, and to offer my gifts and myself to the world around me in ways that bring life and hope to those around me.   There’s a page near the end that is underlined and dog-eared and worn like so many pages in my Bible, because it speaks truth, speaks to my heart and encourages me for the journey.   It says (and guys reading this – don’t check out – there is truth for you here too): “As a woman who has been ransomed and redeemed, you can be strong and tender.   You speak to the world of God’s mercy, mystery, beauty, and his desire for intimate relationship.   You are inviting; you can risk being vulnerable, offering the weight of your life as well as your need for more , because you are safe in God’s love.  

I love the story of Eutychus in Acts 20.  I always have.  For the same reason I enjoy the story of Balaam’s donkey talking to him or the story of Elisha praying for bears to destroy the people who called picked on him for being bald.  It’s one of those comedic stories that make you scratch your head and thank God for His sense of humor.  In case you aren’t familiar with it, though, here’s the story, starting in verse 7 and ending in verse 12:       “On Sunday we all met together to eat the Lord’s Supper.  Paul talked to the group.  Because he was planning to leave the next day, he continued talking until midnight.  We were all together in a room upstairs, and there were many lights in the room.  There was a young man named Eutychus sitting in the window.  He fell to the ground from the third floor.  When the people went down and lifted him up, he was dead.  Paul went down to where Eutychus was, knelt down beside him, and put his arms around hi.  He said to the other believers,