LIVING ON THE EDGE! (article) by D. S. Mullis on AuthorsDen

I wrote "Living on the Edge", a few years ago, a poem that actually found its birth from this article that I had written prior to the poem. I have revised the article some due to more recent changes that I have experienced since the original writing. Perhaps as you read both, you will find yourself within the confines of the reality.

Living on the edge, you ever been there?
It's scary at best, a challenge to dare
Get out on a limb or walk in the dark,
Just trusting in time your ship will embark
Upon calmer seas, and light will break thru,
To prove once again God's faithful to you!
Not just anyone will live on the edge,
It may bring distress or create a wedge-
For when you decide you aren't close enough
To God, you will find the going gets rough!

But oh, what a joy to walk the unknown!
To live on the edge where no light has shone,
To trust and believe that He will provide
All things for your life, for He is the Guide!
No height is too high, no depth is too deep,
Don't limit yourself, just know He will keep
You under His wing and show you each day,
A wondrous supply He'll send forth your way-
Go live on the edge and keep your mind clear,
Abundant success is hovering near!
D.S. Mullis
Copyright.2009

When we think of 'living on the edge', most of the time the connotation is one of someone who dares to go beyond the borders of acceptance, or beyond their limitations. I have heard this statement or something similar more than once through the years: "He is a fence straddler-trying to see just how close he can live on the edge of the world and yet still live for God."

Sad to say, many Christians live in that realm. The apostle Paul called it a war between the flesh and the spirit.

But that is not the essence of my thoughts in these lines. The 'living on the edge' that I am referring to is in a totally different realm. Most of us do not dare to 'live on the edge' that I am about to share with you.

When the thought of this subject matter came to my mind, it was as if God was asking me if I would dare to 'live by faith'.
I thought in rebuttal, "But, God, I have been a Christian for well over a quarter of a century now, and I live by faith."
Quickly I was reprimanded for that arrogant statement, for He quietly assured me that the 'living on the edge' that I was about to experience would far exceed the realm of faith that I had lived in theretofore.

When we are self-sufficient, it's not hard to live by faith. If we want something and feel that something is the will of God for our lives, we have the capability of obtaining it or making it happen. We pride ourselves in our abilities to do this, all the while giving God the credit for expanding our faith to believe for whatever that something is at the time. When we have money in the bank or our pockets, when we have food in the pantry, gas in the autos, a good paying job, a nice home with furnishings galore, and the list could go on and on, we feel that we have everything 'well in hand', as my daddy used to say. We can speak of faith, but that's not what the Bible calls faith. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen", according to the writer of Hebrews, so our concept of faith and the reality of faith are on two different plateaus until we begin to live on the edge.

I am speaking from experience, because I have always been a very independent, self-sufficient kind of woman. Pride was not considered a virtue, so it did not appear to me that my actions were prompted by pride. Was I in for an awakening!

After having been a daughter, Christian, wife, mother, and working outside of the home woman, it seemed there was an arena of life that was yet to be found.

One night while walking from my parent's home to my home next door, my mind quickly grasped the thought, "Wanna go on an adventure?" I smiled to myself and said, "Yeah, I've never been an adventurous person, but I'm ready for it, God, if that's what you want for me."

The Adventure

It all began one moonlit night while talking with the Lord,
The passion in my heart and mind was centered on His Word.
His presence overwhelmed me as He whispered in my ear,
"Are you ready for adventure? If so, then have no fear."
You see, He knew deep down inside was passion on the wait
To walk with Him and trust His will, and not depend on fate.
He took me by the hand and said, "I will instruct and guide,
No matter where you come or go, I'll be there by your side.
Don't lose hope or be dismayed when those around you jeer,
They think your life is lived in jest so soon your end is near.
But as for them there is no faith nor evidence of fruit,
Adventure found within God's realm will be a hot pursuit!"
So on we go, the Lord and I, adventure calls my heart,
And even when I may not see, He shows me where to start.
The end results will manifest all efforts we afford,
For one day soon this life will end and we will see the Lord.
D.S. Mullis
Copyright.2009

Little did I know at the time of writing both poems that my life would take a vast turn. You see, when you live on the edge with God, you get out of the box, so to speak. You get out of your comfort zone, out of your realm of apathy and complacency. And the funny thing is, you don't realize that you have actually inhabited those places until you begin to live on the edge, and look at life as an adventure!

Shortly after these poems were penned, my world turned upside down. My mama, who has always been my best friend, almost died. She had to go into nursing home care, and soon thereafter my daddy followed suit. My son, who is legally blind and partially deaf, relocated for a job possibility, and I began to float between the three of them.

Long story short, I ended up moving from my comfort zone where I had lived for 50 years, abandoned everything that had ever had any significance in my life, and began a trek with God like I had never experienced, and continue to experience! Living on the edge and accepting my life as an adventure has become the norm now.
He taught me that He is all I need, and He will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory.

It's been two years since I have had gainful employment, doing whatever my hands find to do, and striving to do it as unto the Lord. I own nothing of my own after having over a million dollars worth of assets in real estate at one time. But, thankfully God made me a forerunner to the economy blowout, helping me liquidate and begin living a low maintenance life before actually being laid off my job making $17 an hr.

Now I work for minimum wage and only 20 hours a week at that. My 1994 Toyota truck died on me, so now I am without a ride...not working enough hours to make enough to buy anything...Know anyone with a Pay It Forward mentality? Sure would like to find one!

Yes, I am learning to live on the edge, trust God to meet my every need just as He says in His Word He will do, and believe that this adventure is going to yield me much more fruit in the days to come than it has in the past. He is faithful even when I am not faithful, He said He would never leave me nor forsake me, and even though I am not perfect, I have never thumbed my nose at God nor blamed Him for my imperfections!

'Living on the edge' takes fortitude, it takes perseverance, it takes knowing the Word of God, for time and time again I have to remind myself what God has spoken for my benefit in His Book. It's not easy, but in the end it will produce peaceable fruit. Godliness with contentment is great gain, but it comes with a price. It costs to be willing to sacrifice the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. But no matter what life costs, the rewards always supersede the loss. The apostle Paul stated, "I have found that whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." That's a mouthful, and not easily come by.

"Go live on the edge and keep your mind clear,
Abundant success is hovering near!"

"So on we go, the Lord and I, adventure calls my heart,
And even when I may not see, He shows me where to start.
The end results will manifest all efforts we afford,
For one day soon this life will end and we will see the Lord."

Now we are watching our society teeter on the changes in the economy, the changes in leadership, the changes in life as we all have once known it. So, it behooves not only me, but you as well, to 'live on the edge' and view your life as an 'adventure', because things never get better before they get worse. Our perspectives will either make us or break us! I want mine to be positive, and not only affect my life, but the life of others with whom I come in contact. The apostle Paul put it this way, "I am become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." To do that, we have to get beyond ourselves and let God move us to the edge of life's adventures!

P.S. After I posted this article with the addition about my truck dying, I experienced a miracle! Truly, someone paid it forward. A couple whose mother bought them a new car gave me their 2000 Nissan Altima! The reality of "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory"! I realize now that a literal miracle takes place when you can not supply your own needs--and a car was a definite need at this time in my life that I was not able to supply within myself!