12 5 25 – Time to Move On

Have you ever felt like you were a slave? A slave to your job? A slave to a relationship? A slave to a cause—whether spiritual, emotional, physical, relational, or financial?

For twenty long years, Jacob slaved away in Laban's house. In Genesis 31, he is finally free—and going home. He arrived in Paddan-Aram with nothing but a shepherd's rod, his father's blessing, and two rearview mirrors, looking over his shoulder at his past. But traveling beside him now are two matriarchs—his honey bunnies, who have taught us more life lessons about relationships than we can shake a stick at—along with their servants, twelve children (with another on the way), and a whole lot of wealth tied up in his oxen, camels, donkeys, sheep, and goats. The only part of the story that remains unfinished is reconciling his relationship with Esau (Gen. 32, 33).

This week here in Michigan, the winter months have officially settled in with a good ten inches of snow and chilly temperatures. It's no longer summer or fall 😊

As we all know, seasons change. Pages turn. Chapters conclude, and new ones begin. Paradigms shift. The sun sets—then rises—then sets again. Seedtime leads to harvest; summer fades to winter; and exile transitions to redemption.

However, our redemption is not limited to an event, as some might think, but it's a step-by-step progression that very often contains some very messy and lengthy periods of time.

The challenge with moving forward from our past is that it creates internal struggle from within and often backlash from without. As new challenges arise, old identity issues resurface. Nerves get frazzled to a crackly crunch. Tensions flare. Flashpoints erupt. Frequently, battle lines get drawn and emotions overwhelm. Can you identify with that during this season of life?

That's this week's Torah portion! It's a time of shaking off chains and forging new beginnings. This week's study is all about facing the dark night of the soul in God's collective and individual redemption cycle.

This is our appointed season to awaken to and deal effectively with the challenges of detoxifying from our enslaved past. Where old things have become stale and unfruitful—if not toxic—these things are about to pass away. There are things in our lives that are old and will definitely feel like they are old: old comfort zones, old grudges, old walls of separation, old defense mechanisms, and old ways of dealing with things that feel all too familiar and stagnate our lives. These come to an end this week.

As the sun rises over the horizon and His mercies are new, this day gives us an opportunity to discontinue the counterproductive patterns of thought, reaction, and behavior, leaving the idea of the past behind. As with Jacob, we will take some hits in our heart, as well as in our body. Some will even begin to wonder if they've jumped out of the frying pan into the fire!

The question that inquiring minds want to know is: are you ready to embrace this appointed season? Are you ready for a new beginning? Are you ready to close the gap between who you were and who you are becoming? Are you ready for a deeper relationship with your Bridegroom King?

Winter is the dark time of the year, but it's the time when the roots grow the deepest to bring the greatest fruit production in the spring and summer.

Shalom!
Alan

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