Empty Space Posted on March 24, 2014 by McKennas Fire Today, I made a bold and brave move and sold David’s jeep. For the last time, I heard the engine rev, I smelled the familiar smell of the oil, and I heard the crunch of the gravel as the large tires rolled out of the driveway. I thought I might cry as my friend drove Putt-Putt (yep, the jeep had a name) out of the dimly lit garage into the gorgeously bright sunlight, but not a tear came to my eye. Instead I felt a rush of adrenaline, a moment of excitement as I saw Putt-Putt pull into the freedom of the open air with a new man who would love and care for her just as David did. She was a free bird, no longer confined to the gathering dust of the cold winter months or the lack of maintenance skills from her inherited owner (me). Even though I was the original purchaser, I always knew she wasn’t loyal to me. She had always been David’s girl. It made me overjoyed to see my friend with a smile on his face as he took her to the promise of a new home. I was ecstatic for him and warmed at the heart for her. When I arrived home tonight, I slowly opened the garage door to an empty space on the right side of the garage. I began to cry as I remembered what the jeep sitting on the right side of the garage used to mean. It meant a husband waiting at home for me. It meant two kids had thrown their school bags across the living room floor and would be asking me for favors the minute I walked through the door. It meant dinner was almost ready and we’d be gathering as a family around the dinner table to share details of our day. And it meant everyone had made it home safe and sound. Thanks be to God. While it took me a moment to process the empty space, in a confusing, yet truthful way, I knew I was actually crying joyful tears. Joyful tears of thankfulness to God for giving me those moments in my life. For giving me those moments to flash back to and remember the comfort of knowing everyone was home safe and sound. Beautiful memories were swirling in my mind, and as I continued to process everything, that’s when I recalled the importance of an empty space. An empty space provides beautiful memories of what once was, but also the potential of what could be. An empty space provides new promises, new potential opportunities, future memories and new beginnings. This empty space was everything but EMPTY. In my small groups at church, we are encouraged to pray for the empty seat in the room. The seat where God can lead the next person to, where there’s an opportunity for another person to join and learn about the Lord, where a Christ Follower could be born, a sinner could find mercy, a broken spirit can find redemption, or someone who is sick can find healing. You never know what opportunity that empty seat holds, and I have yet to know what opportunity the empty space in the garage holds. Perhaps a rebuilding of me and my interests? A place for my kayak to rest after a long day on the water with friends? A place for me to prepare for a weekend trip of camping with family? A spot where the dogs and I can dry after an unexpected day in the rain? A space where I can drop my equipment after a freeing event of shooting hoops, playing sand volleyball, or running a 5K? A future site for the classic car I someday want to own? That space has beautiful memories, but it also holds the potential of new, unexpected promises. The empty space, the void we may feel in our lives, in our hearts, in our homes, or even our career… those don’t mean the end, they don’t have to mean something important has been taken away, and they don’t necessarily mean we’ve lost something forever. I used to struggle with the devastation of an empty house and the empty rooms it would hold. But now those empty rooms are filled with numerous possibilities and occurrences – family visiting for the weekend, friends staying from out of town, and twelve people joining me on Wednesday nights for a Bible study. While I may not have understood why empty spaces had to come in the first place, I know now empty spaces leave room for God to fill our lives with new blessings. I’m looking forward to seeing how God fills the empty spaces in my life, my heart, and my home. Thanks be to God. “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22-23)
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 04:15:50 +0000
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