Gigi Graham Tchividjian - Currents of the Heart: Glimpses of God in the Stream of Life

CURRENTS OF THE HEART
Published by Multnomah Books

1996 by Gigi Graham Tchividjian
International Standard Book Number: 978-0-88070-933-0
Edited by Sue Ann Jones and Larry Libby
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from: The Holy Bible,
New International Version (NIV) 1973, 1984 by International Bible Society,
used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House
Also quoted:
The New King James Version (NKJV) 1984 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
The King James Version (KJV)
The Living Bible (TLB) 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers
The Amplified Bible (TAB) 1965 by Zondervan Publishing House.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission.

For information:
Multnomah Books
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Tchividjian, Gigi
Currents of the heart : glimpses of God in the stream of life / Gigi Graham Tchividjian.
p. cm. Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-88070-933-0 (alk. paper)
eBook ISBN: 978-0-8041-5315-7
1. Christian life. 2. Tchividjian, Gigi. I. Title.
BV4501.2.T32 1996 96-17964
242dc20

v3.1

This book is lovingly dedicated to all my daughters:

Berdjette, Jerushah,
Lisa, Lydia, and Kimberly.

Each of them is a source of joy and inspiration to me as I observe them trusting God in the currents of their lives.

The daughters heart is in the hand of the L ORD , like rivers of water; he turneth it whithersoever he will.
- K ING S OLOMON

A book is not written alone.

In my case, it takes a patient, understanding husband and family. And mine has once again proven to be a source of encouragement to me.

It takes a good, very sensitive editor, not only one who appreciates my work, but ideally is also a friend. I have the privilege of working with the best Larry Libby. Without you, I would have given up.

It takes faithful friends like Les Troyer and Steve Griffith to iron out all the wrinkles, offer encouragement, and see that the job is done right.

Sometimes it takes the help of freelance editors. For this project, Sue Ann Jones took the challenge, and because of her gentle touch on my manuscript, my mind and my nerves were calmed and we were able to meet the deadlines.

It takes a talented art and graphic design department. This one had to go back to the drawing board at the last minute. Thank you, David Uttley, for designing and putting together a finished product of which we can all be proud.

It takes many others who answer the phones, send the FedEx packs, write the letters, market, do publicity and countless other behind-the-scenes jobs. Most of you I do not know by name, but I appreciate you all.

And finally, it takes a publisher who believes in me and is willing to pull all of its resources together, put its name on the book, and then see that it is available to the readers. This is our third project together, and I value our relationship.

Each of you has experienced the currents of birthing a book. Without you, this would not have been published.

So, simply from my heart thank you!

Behind my childhood home in the mountains of North Carolina, a stream bubbles and chatters year round.

I cant calculate how many hours I spent on its banks, watching for crawdads, salamanders, and minnows, wading in its merry current, peeking under the rocks, or dreaming at the edge of its pools. Sometimes as I waded, a crawfish would lift his bright orange or deep brown claw and warn me away from his dwelling with a pinch. At other times, I would spy a bright object flashing suddenly through the water. Reaching down, I might claim a piece of gleaming mica, a tiny garnet, or other semi-precious stone. With a bit of luck, I might even lift out a real ruby.

In the same way, I believe, the Lord brings sudden insights into the flow and tumble of everyday life. Someone once defined an insight as a sudden glimpse of the obvious. You might call it a new way of seeing something that has been there all along. Like a precious stone under the water, it may lie there for months and years until it suddenly catches a particular angle of sunlightand flashes like fire.

Id like to say these glimpses occur every time I kneel in prayer or step into a church. But that wouldnt be true. Instead they come like flashes from a streambed at unexpected moments while Im building a brick walkway, flying a kite, lying in bed unable to sleep, fixing dinner, gazing through an airliner window, watching my son drive away, wiping away a tear, or playing with the children in the sand. The Lord gives me an insight, a sudden glimpse of the obvious, that adds depth to my spirit and gives me a greater understanding of the many riches He provides to His children.

The meditations on the following pages have not been arranged in anything approaching chronological order. Christmas musings may fall before Thanksgiving essays, and summer writings juxtapose with wintry thoughts. Yet they do have an order theyre arranged according to the currents in which they flow.

First come the ripples, the gentle little waves that give our lives form and texture, occurring over and over again, fluid yet constant patterns that push us along from morning to night. Perhaps it is while we are in this mundane, involuntary current of ripples, bobbling along day after day, that our spiritual glimpses are the most unexpected.

Next come the rapids and whirlpoolsinsights gained during challenges faced and lessons learned. These are the currents we may ride with fear, frustration, anger, or broken hearts, either plunging over the ragged edge of despair or circling endlessly in monotony until we remember to reach for help and find Him always there, His hand outstretched to lift us up.

And finally come the sparkling pools, the easy, peaceful currents in which we grow and rest and look for depth in the quiet moments of our lives.

It is through these small glimpses of God that I become re-enchanted with everyday life. These glimpses I now share with youa gentle stream of simple insights that flow through my life and, I hope, merge into yours.

I like to call them Currents of the Heart.

A ram kissed us good-bye and walked out the front door.

Pray for the Volkswagen! he called over his shoulder.

I watched from the edge of the brick walk as he climbed into the little car and turned the key. The engine roared to life, but the Volkswagen shook and vibrated with such force and vigor I wondered how it could possibly make the long trip that lay ahead.

I waved until I could no longer see the shape of the funny fishing hat plopped on top of Arams head. Bending down to pluck a dead leaf from a pink geranium, I said another quick prayer for the rusty, noisy little car and its precious cargo.