Our Stories
The Kingdom of God, Doodling and Deep Shift
By Debbie Hancock | posted 03/06/2008
"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." (Philippians 4:6-7, The Message)
Last week I was laid out with a sore throat, itchy eyes, runny nose, cough, fever, and achy all over feeling. On top of that, several times a day I would pass the mirror in the hall and scare myself. Let me just say I made some crazy looking hairdos. I rarely remembered that I am the daughter of the King, the apple of His eye. In fact there wasn't much Kingdom thinking at all the first couple of days. Drawing and doodling helped me through the times when I couldn't think past my funk. It's a way to connect with God in prayer without ever having to speak. I first found the practice in a book called "Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God" by Sybil MacBeth. I have been practicing it for a few months now.
On Day One of the "icky sick time" I started worrying. I worried because my throat was so sore and swollen, worried because I was missing work, worried that my mom and brother might catch "it". I reached for my note pad and started to doodle. I drew a straight line with the word PROVISION on it. I added some colors and more lines; I looked at that word and remembered how God has provided for me. Before I knew it God's Peace came and settled me down to sleep.
Day Two: I got mad. Angry with my co-worker who came over to me at my desk, coughed on me and then laughed, mad about missing work, mad about the sore throat, coughing, sneezing, achy feeling, mad that I couldn't sleep. I picked up my note pad and drew another line. This time I put the words, MERCY AND GRACE on it. More colors and a squiggle here and there, no words spoken, I couldn't muster words. Before long the doodle prayer ushered in the Peace again. I was thankful and grateful that I could rest. I thought I heard Jesus say "good night Princess".
The third day I planned my Memorial service. No kidding, the music and scriptures, the whole thing. Then it dawned on me....what good will I be to anybody if I'm DEAD. I'm not ready to die. There is so much I have to do. So many dreams God has put in my heart that have not been realized yet. Completely self absorbed, me, me, me. I hate when that happens. I doodled another line. This time the word LIFE seemed like the word of the hour. I looked at that word for a long time. I asked God to forgive me. I asked him in my doodles to guide me and help me remember whose I am. He met me there. I fell asleep thinking about a beautiful Kingdom, where no one is sick, or alone, where there is always enough. There are no worries about money or debt. You know that you are loved and every one is free of every kind of fear and addiction. There is no war there, no violence. Children are safe there, life is abundant and full. The Kingdom of God.
Someone shared with me recently an excerpt from a JD Salinger book. The character was expressing, in my own interpretation, how stupid we are not to know the Kingdom of God is inside of us. I am stupid when it comes to that. I admit it.
Jesus established the Kingdom. He lived and died and rose again for it. And that we might live that new way. His life shows us how to live it. We are representatives of the Kingdom. The Kingdom is God's Heart. The Word says "thy Kingdom come, may your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." In the Message it reads "Father. Reveal who you are. Set the world right."
I have been praying, and even doodling, to see opportunities to make Kingdom choices. God is piecing more and more together for me. In my relationships at work and at home, when I shop, what I buy, what I eat, how and what I drive are all chances to choose to live in the Way of God's Kingdom.
I am looking forward to a conference that is coming up. Deep Shift with Brian McLaren. For me it will be an interesting time to meet with others who have some thoughts and ideas about the Kingdom. I love to hear how God is showing up in our lives. I would like to invite you to the conference as well. You will be hearing more about that in the weeks to come.
Debbie
To respond to this message, email Debbie at djh_is@truthrelationshippurpose.com.
