The Good Life
Excerpt from Romans 8:18-24
"The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pang . . . . We are enlarged in the waiting." (The Message)
Reflection by William C. Green
Across cultures and religions, the journey to the good life involves moving out of comfort zones. Odysseus leaves his safe kingdom for the Trojan war, the young Buddha leaves the palace, Abraham and Sarah head out to an unknown land, Jesus calls his followers out of the life they had known, St. Francis goes on pilgrimages to the Muslim world, Queen Esther and Joan of Arc enter the world of battle to protect their peoples.
Pursuing the good life entails pain and wounding. But in all accounts the wound becomes "sacred" and enlarges life significantly. This is the precise meaning of the wounds of Jesus.
I think of this on a modest scale when I really want to change but can't let go of old ways. Change is a good idea—as with getting rid of bad habits—but it's often painful. And so with relationships. Dependency on old patterns of behavior suffocates closeness with others. But those patterns are often hard to break. The same with congregations that say they want vitality and growth but then get consumed in debate about re-carpeting or whether to asphalt or cement the parking lot.
What are the old ways we need to abandon for something new to be born? Change may hurt, but, in the spirit of Christ, wounds can heal. As Mary asked, "Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?"
Prayer
Enlarge my spirit with yours, O God. May your promise of new life make me strong enough to let go of what I must leave behind. Amen.
Excerpt from Romans 8:18-24
"The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pang . . . . We are enlarged in the waiting." (The Message)
Reflection by William C. Green
Across cultures and religions, the journey to the good life involves moving out of comfort zones. Odysseus leaves his safe kingdom for the Trojan war, the young Buddha leaves the palace, Abraham and Sarah head out to an unknown land, Jesus calls his followers out of the life they had known, St. Francis goes on pilgrimages to the Muslim world, Queen Esther and Joan of Arc enter the world of battle to protect their peoples.
Pursuing the good life entails pain and wounding. But in all accounts the wound becomes "sacred" and enlarges life significantly. This is the precise meaning of the wounds of Jesus.
I think of this on a modest scale when I really want to change but can't let go of old ways. Change is a good idea—as with getting rid of bad habits—but it's often painful. And so with relationships. Dependency on old patterns of behavior suffocates closeness with others. But those patterns are often hard to break. The same with congregations that say they want vitality and growth but then get consumed in debate about re-carpeting or whether to asphalt or cement the parking lot.
What are the old ways we need to abandon for something new to be born? Change may hurt, but, in the spirit of Christ, wounds can heal. As Mary asked, "Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?"
Prayer
Enlarge my spirit with yours, O God. May your promise of new life make me strong enough to let go of what I must leave behind. Amen.
|
