The Empty Front Porch

Of course, living in faith also requires you to answer the calling and live fully without fear in service to your purpose. For me, it included faith to create a business, write this book, and step away from the illusion of an employer paycheck as the source for my well-being and comfort. The false belief was that the source of that paycheck was something that I was creating or doing on a regular basis instead of Him. It also encompassed the willingness to be open daily to new assignments that were not apparent yet and to trust that talent and gifts would be used in His time, not mine, which would be the source of future provision. It required the recognition that callings can alter over time or be used in different ways and with new audiences. I came across this Neale Donald Walsch quote that convicted me to the core. “Money is not the issue. Having the courage to give your highest gift is the issue. There is no security in doing something for a living when you are dying inside while doing it. That is taking care of the body at the expense of the soul. And a withering soul cannot help but produce a withering body. So do not think you are “taking care of yourself” by killing your spirit to keep your body alive. How long will you put off what you are dying to do?” A client had struggled with similar issues having built a business that was providing financial security to the family and at the same time required divesting of some interests no longer perceived to be in line with their core values. There was also a yearning to do other things in service with his life. The fear was losing the ability to provide, to be the protector, and to have long-term comfort for the future. Those for whom he was providing had already spoken words of freedom and released him from any real or perceived commitments. He now knew the full freedom of the earthly front porch coupled with God’s freedom in securing his path in life. In other words, there were no excuses not to answer the call. He also knew the restlessness to risk it all, be obedient, and to act in faith without fear. During the time this occurred with the client, I went for my prayer walk and took this photo of the sign I saw outside a nearby church. I emailed it to him as he left for a mission trip as a bon voyage present from God.

This occurred as I wrestled with my own fear of answering the next phase of my calling. Nothing like having a mirror held up to you on the porch. New people were showing up encouraging me to write, and clients were coming on board from a variety of places. I was trying to pull my chair up close to see whether my ego was leading me, whether I was being tempted not to finish the last calling, or whether I was actually late and should have answered the new calling a while ago. Yes, sometimes, handwriting on the wall would be welcomed.

And then, twice in two weeks, people who had no idea what I was going through prayed for me to know that God had more planned for me than I could ever imagine and used those same words. One of them said God had known me before I was here, hence the first Bible verse under the photo in Chapter One of this book. The first person to utter those words was during the “Be Still” themed retreat during the self-imposed sabbatical. At the end of the day, we were offered the opportunity to receive a blessing. I had never experienced that other than the benediction at the end of a Sunday service, so I was curious and open.

We sat facing each other on two rockers after night had fallen, just as the photo shows at the opening of this chapter. As this perfect stranger, who had nothing to gain and who knew nothing about me, prayed for me, she reminded me of my Source, of His care, of my purpose, and of the utter trust I could have in what was already set on the table for me. All I had to do was to be present in faith releasing all fear. As the tears flowed down my face while she prayed, I wondered how on earth she could possibly have reached into my soul and known where I was, what I was struggling with, and what needed to be interceded for on my behalf? How did she know that I needed the reassurance that the plan was already written, to just step out on faith? Of course, now I know that she was connecting my front porches for me. Even though I had gone to the mountain the day before and heard, “Don’t leave in the middle of the storm. It’s the most dangerous time for you,” I also needed to know that the storm would end and that what was coming was going to be far more than I could ever design, dream, or plan. Just as the opportunity to study abroad, travel the world, and lead large organizations was nothing I could ever have dreamed up or figured out how to make happen from the venue of my tiny bedroom in a small town in Virginia, there was more to come. Even sharing with you via this book takes these very personal experiences to an audience beyond any expectations I would have had. You don’t have to design on your own. My stories, questions, and prayers are only the catalyst for you to sit for a spell, remember your stories and connect your front porches knowing that you can do so in co-creation and without fear.