This week Denise shares her story of learning to "hand it over."
I had just finished watching Higher Ground for about the 10th time, and as usual, my heart broke in a million pieces time and time again watching Oliver trying to cope with Shane's extended absence. When he was at his lowest point and admitted to Norman "I don't know what to do", I was surprised at his decision. There was nothing wrong with him acknowledging that, but he knew what he needed to do. He needed to pray. But did he? I'm not sure. He did choose a course of action and went to DC to look for Shane, but their reunion was a complete disaster. While talking with Shane there, Oliver did a 180 degree turn and all of his fears and insecurities returned. I asked myself "Where is the Oliver we saw at the end of Lost Without You? " In the chapel scene, he shared with Shane that he had turned all of his fears and the pain of his past over to the Lord in prayer while he and Joe were lost on the mountain, and left it there. That changed him. His conversation with Shane was open, honest, and filled with anticipation of building his future with her.
The trip to DC accomplished nothing for Oliver but create additional pain. As he walked away from Shane I could almost hear the thoughts in his head "I did it again. I risked my heart, and it's broken." His conversation with his dad at the Mailbox Grille the night he reunited Gabe and Hattie spoke plainly of a man who believed that Shane would never come back to him. Yet once again, Joe imparted wisdom to his heartbroken son. Even though Joe was speaking of his own circumstances, he told Oliver how he was going to handle them. "You heard the song. Hand it Over. (Get on Your Knees and Pray)." He was advising his son to do that, but did Oliver follow his advice? Again, I'm not sure. The first few minutes of his reunion with Shane in the DLO still showed a man lost, broken, and in pain. |
We don't know what Oliver was thinking as his conversation with Shane continued to spiral, but something happened. It may have been seeing Shane in tears, trying to convince him that she missed him so much "she felt like she was going to die before she could see him again", or perhaps God "smacked Oliver up the side of the head" to get his attention and reminded him that he had left all his fears and pain on the mountain, but I think at that moment Oliver did "hand it over," as he "pulled" Shane into his arms and kissed her. His conversation with Shane in the final moments of Higher Ground was again open, honest, and filled with anticipation of building his future with her. |
The Living Letters series will continue as long as there are stories to share. If you would like to contribute something about how Signed, Sealed, Delivered has impacted your life that you'd be willing to share here on A&D, feel free to email me.