compiling a narrative

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1-4)


I love the way Luke begins his gospel.  It reminds me that with God there is always a narrative being compiled--both within me and around me.  It is something that I must pay careful attention to, or else I can easily miss it altogether.  What exactly is the story God is writing within me these days?  What is he doing deep in my heart and soul?  How is he drawing me to deeper and deeper places with himself?  How is he trying to disrupt or disturb me in order to make me more fully his own?  What is he inviting me to?  What is he asking of me?  Am I living his story for me in every way possible?  Or am I somehow resisting, refusing, or denying it? 

Because there are other narratives within me that compete with his--ones that make the story I end up living each day much darker, much uglier, much less heroic.  They are false narratives that go deep into my soul; planted there long ago by the arrows that have pierced my heart along the way, as well as what I've interpreted those arrows to mean as far as my value, worth, and identity are concerned.  They are the tool of the enemy to keep me living in a bad, dark, hopeless story, rather than the good, beautiful, heroic one God so deeply longs for me to live in--and longs to live in me.

So I guess the truth of the matter is that every day I have to choose which story I'm going to be about, which story I am going to live.  Am I going to be like Luke and be about compiling a narrative of all that God is doing in and through me?  Or am I going to live a story that is much less than the story He has imagined for and with me?  Doesn't sound like much of a choice, does it?