Buck Naked

I am using a series of posts that lead up to the ten year death anniversary of our daughter.

“Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you said so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:5 NIV

A dear friend of ours taught in the art department at Fort Hays State for 30 years. He explained what an art show feels like. He would spend large amounts of time creating. After pouring out his heart and soul, he would put a collection of work on display. Some people loved it. Then, some might walk by and say, “I don’t get it”. He said it felt like standing naked in front of strangers.

I am learning what that feels like. About 11 years ago I felt like God was telling me something. We were in the middle of some struggles with Korbin and autism. Everything we could find to read was written from either a clinical perspective or a research perspective. We found little written from a parent. I got this urging that I was supposed to write it. “You want me to do what?!”

“I want you to write a book.” I laughed out loud. What seemed far-fetched appeared more clear as I looked for a way around it. Mary and I talked about it and we were convinced it had everything to do with Korbin. Was it possible for us to help other parents? Specifically, I saw a chasm of missing fathers. Moms are far more resilient than dads. So I started thinking about what needed to be said. I agreed with God that it needed to be done, and please re-read that sentence. “I agreed…”. I am positive God laughs out loud sometimes.

Shortly after this alignment of will, Jordyn was killed in that car accident on September 11, 2009. The book left my mind. But it came back. I was out working and as is sometimes the case, stories were exchanged. In the middle of a conversation, a client said, “I think you’re supposed to write a book. You know anything about that?” I’ve been working on it off and on since. The ten-year anniversary seemed like a good target. It was in that process that writing devotionals started.

Just like our friends art shows, some will like them, while others laugh. I am not concerned with response, although I now know what he meant by feeling naked. I am only concerned with being obedient. This has been a call inside my heart for a decade. It’s just time to let you in on it, because He said so.

Do you have any calls inside your heart? If not, ask specifically, listen harder.

What are you going to do about it?

Challenge: Maybe it’s time to get buck naked.

Rick Claiborn