Dearly Beloved,
Grace and Peace to you.
There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
—Luke 13.25-28
Perhaps Jesus saw global climate change and Superstorm Sandy coming. Or think of it this way: sometimes the holy erupts in our lives from somewhere so deep that it seems that it’s from another world. It often feels threatening because the changes that it brings are so profound; it dismantles much of our world. But isn’t there much of your world that needs to be dismantled? Injustice, dehumanization and cruelty are so widespread in the world around us, and guilt, shame, sorrow and fear make up so much of the infrastructure of our inner worlds that the whole thing needs to be taken apart and re-made. Jesus’ vision is not about destruction but re-creation. It’s an invitation to let go of what has been and accept what is, to receive what is coming.
Whenever our world shakes or changes, or needs to, we allow ourselves to be reborn. We let go of outward things and go deeper to the core of our being, where God gives us new life moment by moment. God enters our world and our lives and our hearts through the cracks and broken places, and changes everything. In the cold of winter, homeless and hunted by soldiers, a baby is born in a manger, who awakens us to love.
When things begin to crack, we know this is about to take place, and our salvation is near. We long for such a coming, and we wait with hope.
Deep Blessings,
Pastor Steve
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Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
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