Lake Havasu

Lori and I live in Colorado. Our daughters live in So. Cal. From our driveway to Lindsey’ home is 1,103 miles, 1,051 to Meagan’s. That’s a lot of miles between us.

I deeply wish we were together more often, enjoying the grace and intimacy being geographically close allows as well as the greater weight and effect my life would have upon them. I miss them. I miss the just “being” there, swinging by in the morning with a bagel, a kiss and a my 2–cents on the issue du jour. Or the fam and a circle of friends sitting on the beach quietly applauding another beautiful sunset together. But, and it’s a  B I G  “but”, Colorado, a thousand-plus miles away,  is where God has us and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

About seven years ago Lori and I moved from a beach community in LA to the side of the Rockies to partner with John Eldredge in this ministry called Ransomed Heart. I had been a pastor on a once dynamic, passionate and  gifted staff at a church with a national reputation for creatively pursuing God, His purposes and all peoples. But, as it often happens, there were some staff changes and with that came a contagion that horribly disfigured the church as a few pharisaic kamikazes flew it into a granite massif. The massif, the staff and the church have never been the same.

Sub-biblical leadership is a bad thing!

God’s clear call to Colorado/Ransomed Heart seemed, to us, on the scale of God calling Abram to “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.”To leave it “all” took a strong and persistent voice. True to His revelatory nature He obliged us, and we followed Him.

Among other things “following” God eventually requires a pretty deep and firm belief that He is good, that His heart is for you and from that heart He will provide above and beyond all that’s lost in the pursuit. 

I’d also add that eventually following God requires an awareness and embrace of The Larger story that we’re living in. At some point tagging along with God will involve taking a risk you cannot manage, a battle with an uncertain ending, a Goliath adversary, a traitorous friend or a circumstance that is the very thing you’ve feared facing all your life. How can you rightly interpret your life, God’s involvement or  your course if you question the goodness of God and view The Story as being all about you?  You can't.

The life we yearn for is found by knowing God as our Loving Father, and that the story we’re living in is epic in nature and scope. And though our role is mythic and crucial, the main character of this story is God, and His redemptive, victorious love of us.  I am beginning to understand this more clearly.

So… in June my family (daughters, spouses, grand daughters) joined more of our family (Bill, Anita and Michael) at Lake Havasu for a little "family" vacation. Lake Havasu is the desert playground on the Colorado River bordering Arizona and California that has The London Bridge arching over it. (Years ago Havasu actually bought The London Bridge, and moved it to this bass fishing and Spring–Break-Gone-Wild mecca as a tourist magnet). On our first night there, Bill, Anita, Lori, Meagan, Lindsey and I are in a ski boat on the lake as the sun is setting enjoying one another and a mid-level price performing chardonnay. We swam, laughed, talked and soaked in the beauty of a fiery sunset.

It’s those moments I want to last forever. Family, friends, beauty, joy... It was awesome.

One of my daughters says to me, “I love being together as family.” I smile, I hug her and weep wishing for so very much more of this! An hour later we’re on shore walking back to the Lake House and she softly says to me, “Dad, for a little while there on the boat with you I forgot I was an adult.” 

I am a rich man. And for a little while there in Havasu I forgot I lived so far from the ones I love most, I forgot the ache, the yearning, the grief. In the presence of a good father a lot of things are forgotten.

The life I want most isn’t found in Havasu, Colorado or So. Cal. It’s in the presence of my Father. – Craig

Comments

[Beverly]

So glad to have clicked on this page and seen that "you're back!" Your written thoughts are always so heartwarming and encouraging - good for the soul. As a mom & grandmother who lives some great distance from my oldest son and family, I too, long for those times, as does my husband. But while feeling all the things you wrote about, your ending says it all. The same thoughts I feel over and over. So many hellos and so many good-byes, but ah, one day, there will be no more good-byes. I believe that is the eternity yearned for that He has put in all our hearts that is speaking. God bless you with many more of those moments with your loved ones.
Beverly from Texas

[Mike]

Well said Craig. You father well, you live well. Thanks for encouraging my heart today.

[David Keister]

Craig,

Please write more, your life experiences and walk with God is food for us poor souls in isolated areas.

"How can you rightly interpret your life, God’s involvement or your course if you question the goodness of God and view The Story as being all about you?" Your words hit me deeply, thank you!

David

[Craig McConnell]

Beverly, Mike & David,
Thank you for your very encouraging words regarding my words. - Craig

[believingthomas]

Craig,
these glimpses of our heart are so good and rich. ...i forgot I was an adult...how I long for a moment like that.

[Jill Dyer]

"At some point tagging along with God will involve taking a risk you cannot manage, a battle with an uncertain ending, a Goliath adversary, a traitorous friend or a circumstance that is the very thing you’ve feared facing all your life."

Those words seemed poignantly significant. I love how you interpret life and I love how your father your family.

Life with God has proven to be a quandary of danger and beauty both.

Thank you as always. May many more fiery sunsets, good bottles of chardonnay, and your sweet daughters treasuring moments with you as you treasure them be sent as reminders of his good, good love.

[Chris]

Those moments are priceless. I yearn for those moments and wish they would happen often. It reminds me of a time surfing, where it was just me and the Creator hanging out in the water. It was beautiful.

[Sallie Ross]

My heart aches in "knowing" the words that you write. But it is such a holy ache -- one that we all share on this journey. Thank you for finding the words. Bless you and Lori.

[Jill Dyer]

Sallie...Holy ache. I love how your put that. Thanks.

[David Felts]

Craig,
When I read this statement, "I’d also add that eventually following God requires an awareness and embrace of The Larger story that we’re living in. At some point tagging along with God will involve taking a risk you cannot manage, a battle with an uncertain ending, a Goliath adversary, a traitorous friend or a circumstance that is the very thing you’ve feared facing all your life." my heart sank....I know what I fear, and know that I need to trust God with it...your words were timely....thanks...
Dave

[Stacy]

"In the presence of a good father, a lot of things are forgotten." Those words brought tears to my eyes. I didn't grow up with a good father. I didn't learn what it is to rest in the sheltering presence of a good father, in such a way that my worries and heartaches are forgotten. Reading the stories you share about your family, and the bond you all have, helps. It clears away some of the rubble, and lets me begin to piece together a picture of how it should be... how it should've been. And most importantly, it helps me recognize the ways that I still let my father's poor example influence my view of God. I didn't have a good father... but I DO have a good Father, and I am stubbornly determined to recognize the difference. In some moments, I do. I get a taste of what it's like to be in His presence, and forget that I'm an adult. How sweet those moments are, and how deeply I yearn for more. Those are how it should be. Thank you for the reminder.

[Noelle Christensen]

"Among other things “following” God eventually requires a pretty deep and firm belief that He is good, that His heart is for you and from that heart He will provide above and beyond all that’s lost in the pursuit."...the last part of this really spoke loudly to me. "He will provide above and beyond all that's lost in the pursuit." This is so true. When God opens doors and simply asks you to follow it can often, if not most of the time, mean leaving "behind" or letting go of expectations and dreams. Craig, your statement in regards to God providing above and beyond all that is lost in the pursuit was a great picture for my heart to rest in being reminded that things lost in the pursuit of following whatever doors God opens will be met and new pursuits set in place. This is grounded in, as you said, the firm belief that God is good and what we thought were the dreams we wanted fulfilled, God has new dreams awaiting that open up the doors of our hearts to see how much He truly does know us better than anyone else ever could. Thank you for sharing your heart!!

[Darren Penny]

Craig,
I spent the day with my two kids; Selah is 7 and Luke is 5. There were times today when it felt like a looong long day! As I read your words now, I hear them upstairs laughing and "brushing" their teeth for bedtime. All that to say your words just perfectly framed my day. I awoke this morning and spent a day with my kids (smile). . . and my Father. We are blessed! Thanks.

[Nick]

Craig,
Like Dave my heart sank in reference to the words around facing the very thing you fear....but, it must be done if we are to really live. I think trying to reason and work through fear(s) on my own terms has allowed me to carve out a fairly good existence but in my heart I know its going through those fears in Christ where we really get our eyes opened and live, not exist. I think this was (part of) where Paul was coming from in Romans 8:15. Immediately after reading your words this morning I was reading Isaiah. In Chapter 43 these words jumped off the page......"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God"......how good is that??
thanks mate
Nick

[Teresa Peterman]

Thank you for your wonderful writing-I love your style and voice so much. I also appreciate your honesty about your church's "pharisaic kamikazes". I attend a very large emergent mega-church in Grand Rapids and we have some of those types of people in my church. God has kept me in this church, but I pray daily for the staff and for those who struggle with a spirit of offense.
Blessings on Ransomed Heart Ministries!

[Vern Hyndman]

[craig] And though our role is mythic and crucial, the main character of this story is God, and His redemptive, victorious love of us. I am beginning to understand this more clearly. [/craig]

[craig] The life I want most ... It’s in the presence of my Father. [/craig]

I think we can see ourselves so much better, almost as if through His eyes, when we're in a moment with our own kids... when God's love through us, to our kids, splashes back and soaks us.

The gift of fatherhood through us, the kind of sudden gift that erases the pain of every past failure, such days become the waypoints of family memories... it's a splash of the coming deluge that our hearts were built for.

-vern-

[Jill Dyer]

vern...looking forward to the beer in the backyard. :-)

[Rich Madison]

I am really glad for the moment that you had with your family. I hurt. It seems that God has me fighting daily battles. I am a counselor and I do spiritual warfare on a regular basis. I believe I am called to it and have seen Papa work in awesome ways. I am so privileged to be used like that. Yet my family has suffered so. One 30 year old is suicidal as I write. We got caught in a bureaucratic mistake that cost me $626, today. I have a daughter who believes she is gay. I could write more.

I don't want to be such a downer. Please pray.

[Roger Shaff]

Craig, your thoughts ring so true. I am in MI; our oldest son is in the Marines and stationed at Cherry Point, NC with his family; our youngest son is a youth pastor in FL; and our only daughter who lives 50 miles away is getting married next month. My wife and I decided when they where very young that part of our job as parents was to raise them to stand on there own. To introduce them to God and let go so that He could do His work. A decision that helped me over many years to prepare me for thier eventual departure. Oh the price of success, for longing to have them near remains.

Everyday I can see how Father God has continued to raise them up in my abscence. Take them to places, both physically and spiritualy, that I in my human-ness could never do. And he contiues to work on me. Showing me how all my efforts without Him are as dung, while those with Him are as the purest gold.

So as I preprare for next months wedding, I preprare to let go a little more.

[Charlie Vernon]

One of my daughters says to me, “I love being together as family.” I smile, I hug her and weep wishing for so very much more of this! An hour later we’re on shore walking back to the Lake House and she softly says to me, “Dad, for a little while there on the boat with you I forgot I was an adult.”

These words, your words, your life, open for us to see - Stirred me to tears as I read them. How I long for this, I am blessed to be heading in the right direction, but seem to be so keenly aware that it may disappear at any moment. I value it too much - to not realize it can be lost. I long to hear words that affirm the love of family. Thanks for sharing your life!

[Ralph K. McLelland]

As I prepare for yet another trip to Colorado reading Gods word spoken through you I am encouraged. I will have more clarity of mind on this trip as I will be sober and seaking what God truly has in store for my life. My small band of brothers will travel to HorizionQuest with my goal to find purpose, calling and prue clarity to my full and abundant life. Pray deeply that I will have the courage to follow Gods calling. Your brother in Mississippi.

Ralph

[Eric Figge]

Craig, You are such a wonderful, articulate soul. I too have two daughters that I adore so much it hurts. To not have access to time with them would be more then I would wish to bare. ( I just got home from hanging with my oldest daughter at a local restaurant where we had a beer and played a game of pool). I hear your pain and I feel it deeply. The fact you decided to get out of the boat and walk on water with your Lord, our Lord, has benefited all of us greatly. Thank you for your courage, your insight, your desire.

Eric

[Susan Hayward]

I am looking for a friend that lives in Lake-Havasu City. I am reaching out to anyone and any site for help. Her name is Connie White and use to live in Federal Way, WA.
dcladi@comcast.net