The New Wine:


Fiction

It stuck with her all these years, the melodramatic picturesque setting of the audience. The way the people looked at the stage with great expectations, the way they turned their heads sideways as they watched the play, and how they studied the unassuming looks of the characters. The way the old lady with the hat clapped her hands, and just how the well-built young men cheered, of which, by the way, some of them spoke to her after it was over. The way the people loved Shakespeare. The way they loved her.

Lucille was her name. She was always Juliet, and Maximus usually played Romeo. They played their roles really well, and no one dared contest with them in the entire village. The play was her pride. In this place she became someone else, a different person altogether. Oh, the joy of that! Instead of the poor church-rat she really was, she became the rich young woman who was in love with Romeo, the handsome man from a family her own despised. She always got lost in the moment.

But in a few days, BROADWAY would be coming to town. A new theatre had just been completed, more beautiful, exciting, and unfortunately more daunting. A new look, and new faces. She was completely afraid...afraid of what might happen to this place. She did not want to part with the old. Inside her, she knew people would stop coming here. And that the regulars would become strangers. She had the opportunity to audition, but she did not want to take it. She was afraid, really afraid. Afraid of the what the future held. Afraid of the new wine.

* * *

Have you ever been afraid of the "new"? Afraid to take hold of the unfamiliar? Afraid that what you have right now might be better than what you think you could have tomorrow? I know I have! I remember when I started attending my current church. I saw how people let go of themselves and go crazy for God, and inside my heart I called them lunatics. Come on now, what was all the noise about? What was this charade and hullabaloo? Like they couldn't keep quiet and listen in solitude. Every little tune from the piano made someone shout or leap for joy. Every sound of prayer made someone tear up. Couldn't they just do things like normal people? God was a quiet spirit, so what was all the noise about?

But the newness in my path was for a reason. Though some times we can pray in the quietness of our spirits, there are other times we may need to shout for help. There are other times when some thing like a word touches our hearts and we tear up. There are sometimes when we need to stand up and start jumping. It was a new wave of worship, and I just wasn't used to that!

This writing is not about "worship" though, this is just about letting God take over your life. Christianity is not a tradition, neither is it a religion. It is about the freedom to follow wherever God's spirit leads you. The freedom to part with the old and take in the new. Today, technology has reached a new high...with twitter, facebook, blogger, wordpress, linkedin, and so much more. People are using these social networks for the wrong reasons, but I totally believe there's something deeper than just social networking. There are lives to be taken for God, there is the new wine tapping on old doors...new ways for miracles to happen...new ways for God to visit you.

You might be the one who's stuck in the old, you feel something in your heart tearing apart, but you're still there trying to hold the pieces together. How about you do this? Let the old garments be torn apart, and put on a new you. Don't tell yourself, "this is just the way I am, I can't change." Change is not too far from you...it is only seconds away...closer than you even think.

DRINK IN THE NEW WINE...& POUR OUT THE OLD...Let God do what He's been trying to do with you...let Him in...He's knocking...

"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’” Luke 5: 37-39

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11 comments:

olaoluwatomi said...

Thanks for this post! It summarizes exactly what I spoke to a friend about today, I have gotten to that point where Im scared to let go and let God even when I know His choices are better than any I could make! Thanks for reminding me to let go and allow God in!

Princess said...

I haven't been here in so long and as usual this inspired me. Sometimes it seems like I'm so high on the Holy Spirit and all I want to use my fb status/blog/tweets from is to tell the World how great He is...then other times I want to be a slacker and praise Him from just the stillness of my heart. Thank you for reminding me that there are lives to be seized from the fire and since our heavenly Father is always working, we must do the same as well! x

Chioma said...

I read your blog religiously but never ever comment. Today, I just HAVE to!!!! All I can say is, "Wow!" I want to say, "Thank you" for not being afraid to let God use you to bless others-for not being afraid to put yourself out there. There is soooo much that I know God wants me to do, esp. in light of these new technologies, that I have been so scared to even acknowledge. Thank you again and again, Jaycee, for this wake-up call. Beautifully written as always. God bless you!

Anonymous said...

excellent read.... have just being thinking about how change is currently forcing me to retool.. like throw out the old and bring in the new... this reinforces the direction i think i should take.,, thanks!

DayDreamer said...

This post has really blessed me. I'm the kind of person that resists major changes in life. I can relate to you on the whole new church deal. I'm in a courtship and we both attend different churches. Everytime I think of the possibility of eventually becoming a member of his church I just shrink back. They do things soooo differently how could I ever get used to that? Thanks for helping shed some light.

Giagerry said...

"People are using these social networks for the wrong reasons, but I totally believe there's something deeper than just social networking. There are lives to be taken for God, there is the new wine tapping on old doors...new ways for miracles to happen...new ways for God to visit you."---LOVELY!!

Robyn.K.Y said...

we are always afraid of Change.

Kafo said...

i used to love change
and now....

now i try just to triumph over it

Patrinas Pencil said...

You got it right, Jaycee. I look forward to hearing your voice for God. Thanks for being His encouraging voice to so many. God has blessed you with His gift of words and the courage to share. Good job!

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

the fear of the unknown can be so paralyzing. Anyway, thanks so much for this wisdom.

Hope all is well.

NIGERIAN CURIOSITY
IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER WHEN I ONLY HAD ONE...

Afrobabe said...

The fear of the unknown...for many years I didnt leave Nigeria because of fear..now I am scared to go back...

How have you been dear, a blessing as usual...