a divine conspiracy

Dallas Willard died on Wednesday. Well, he died in the human sense. In the truest sense, Dallas died every day as he yielded his life to the trust-able arms of Jesus. In my short list of "authors that have most shaped my understanding of life and the Kingdom of God," Dallas is in the top three. 

Tasha and I had the privilege of leading worship a few years ago for an Ash Wednesday gathering of the Ecclesia Network in Washington D.C. The preacher for the evening: Dallas Willard. Truth-be-told, I don't remember much about what he said that night, but I remember approaching him afterward to thank him for his comments, and he said simply, "You helped me see Jesus tonight. Thank you."

Another shaping moment.

The next day, Tasha and I drove Dallas to the airport to catch his flight. I intentionally took the long way to Dulles so we could spend the extra few minutes with him. We made a little small talk, then I said, "Dallas, I'm a young pastor, I love your writings, and I'm trying to be faithful to Jesus and to God's calling on my life. Is there any 'off-the-cuff' advice you'd want to share?"

Dallas leaned back in the chair, breathed deeply, and said, "Tom, never quit."

That's not a typo. He just didn't remember my name :)


But another shaping moment.

     Never quit.

When the important relationships in your life seem to be falling apart . . .

     Never quit.

When the decisions you make cause deep wounds in your own life and in the lives of others . . . 

     Never quit.

When you're at the end of your rope, and you think you can't go on . . .

     Never quit.

When you're diagnosed with pancreatic cancer . . .

     Never quit.
 
When you feel completely alone, and there's no where left to turn . . .

     Never quit.
 

My (selfish) sadness at Dallas' death is pretty deep. Ironic, because we weren't friends, and if I walked into his office, he wouldn't have recognized me. He wouldn't have even called me, "Tom." But I'll always remember those two encounters. And I'll reread The Divine Conspiracy and Renovation of the Heart and The Great Omission quite a few times throughout my life. And I'll quote him often, because the things he wrote are so embedded in my understanding of what's important.

And one day, I'll see him again. And maybe then he'll know my name :)


One of my favorite quotes from The Divine Conspiracy, "[Jesus] matters because of what he brought and what he still brings to ordinary human beings, living their ordinary lives and coping daily with their surroundings. He promises wholeness for their lives. In sharing our weaknesses he gives us strength and and imparts through his companionship a life that has the quality of eternity.

Dallas Willard (September 4, 1935 - May 8, 2013)