Oliver: Deconstructed

Before rebuilding, something often has to be destroyed.

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So far we've looked at Rita, Norman and Shane's house rules progress. Today we take on lead Postable, Oliver. 

When Theresa Capodiamonte conveyed to Oliver the power he had to set his course was always there within his power, I argued that Oliver's courage to risk placed him closer and closer to the peace he was seeking, and the clarity of purpose and certainty that risking afforded him. This was the basis of Oliver's original House Rule.

In that context, risk was confronting the thing that scared Oliver the most---having his world rearranged by Shane's appearance, and finding out what was on the other side of facing his ending marriage. In an essence, confronting the fickle things in which Oliver placed his identity.

At the same time, however, Oliver was inching closer and closer to the ultimate deconstruction of those things in which Oliver placed his identity, that eventually challenged him to his very core.

As you saw, the deconstruction began with things like Oliver's commitment to  "a perfect delivery record [and] a perfect marriage," eventually escalating to challenge his status as an O'Toole. As Oliver stepped out to meet each challenge, he simultaneously removed each thing as a valid source from which to draw his identity until forced to find something outside himself in which to do so.

Let me cut to the chase---Oliver is a man of faith, and God has been pulling Oliver towards Him by taking away every fickle and fleeting thing in which Oliver placed his identity until there was nothing left but God in whom Oliver could---and should---identify.

Who is Oliver if he's not an O'Toole? He's a child of God--plain and simple.

A good & faithful servant.

While not an explicitly tackled topic, it would seem this is the conclusion to which all the earth-shattering things happening to Oliver, and seemingly in rapid succession, must be pointing. After all, he went from losing his marriage to losing his identity as an O'Toole in less than a week!

What we should really be asking, however, is the benefit of having all these things stripped away. The answer is simple: a more perfect, stable and unchanging foundation from which to rebuild. And, truth be told, Oliver has already found ways to rebuild, and quickly. Take the newly formed O'Toole Foundation as proof. We'll be discussing that in a few contexts in the coming weeks---so stay tuned!

I mentioned before that the things in which Oliver placed his identity were unstable, so its worth highlighting that there have been some additional sources of stability built around Oliver at the same time. As his world was deconstructed, God had already starting rebuilding to support Oliver as things got increasingly difficult for him to sort through.

"I have no plans to leave---if it matters."

One of those things was Shane, who became his confidante, advocate and eventually a safe haven. She even made the commitment in Truth Be Told to stand beside him, having "no plans to leave." Shane weathered with Oliver both his emotional and relational struggles, and has made the unwavering commitment to continue to do so. 

Then there's the matter of that inheritance Oliver recently acquired. Through it, Oliver achieved a level of financial stability that perhaps we never even considered he might need. Though we haven't quite figured out the purpose of this inherited fortune for Oliver in a larger sense, we already know he's using it to do good, and, one could argue, to support in the rebuilding and restoration of others.

In many ways, Oliver's decision to begin the process of risking resulted in perhaps the most stability he's ever known. He has achieved relational wholeness through forgiving Holly, reconciling with his father and pursuing a relationship with Shane. He's allowing himself to be more vulnerable---which we'll also tackle in another post in more depth. And he's achieved a financial stability he wasn't even trying to pursue but was entrusted to him, and which Oliver is already using for good. One can only imagine what God will use him to do now!


Grabbing a Buzz Saw,
~C

House Rules 2 Series: Trailer | Norman | Rita | Shane | Oliver | Group Assessment