For the past three weeks Ryan has been diligently preparing for his final exams at Whelton Academy. Ignoring the many opportunities to go out with his friends, he suffers from the agony of loneliness. Though he is able to meet with them between classes, he feels almost entirely disconnected from their lives as he listens to the highlights from the passing weekends. But he must stay focused. Ryan's parents, Mike and Stephanie, are accomplished professionals in their work and seem to place a generous burden on Ryan to do the same. Yet, he longs for something different. As the hours grow deeper into the night, he begins to listen to what he believes is the voice of God speaking to his soul:
"Ryan, I have called you by name and as you study diligently for your exams, know that I, the Lord your God, love you and desire a thriving relationship with you." As he sat alone under the dim light at his desk, Ryan could sense the room becoming tighter with a force compelling him to listen. "I know you are troubled with the demands your parents place on you, but be faithful even to the smallest of details." Not knowing what to make of this, he simply took a moment to process what he believed he was hearing and tried to refocus on his studies, doing all he could to convince himself that he was indeed losing his mind.
Do we really hear from God? Is it possible for us to sense his Spirit around us right here in the real world? And if so, how does that change our relationship with our friends and the call to love others, including family?
For Ryan, he deeply longs to be connected to his parents, but the struggle to move beyond their vision of success for his life continues to pin him down, keeping him from the joy of living a life of real freedom. The quest for freedom requires faith in God and for the first time in a long time, Ryan is beginning to believe.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment