paravanes:meditations

Yes, you absolutely can recover from the loss of life's familiar structures and patterns. The disciples on Holy Saturday:  hiding out, dreams crushed, identities warped, "fearless leader" killed by oppressive state powers which were guided by jealousy and envy. The disciples after the Resurrection:  surprised beyond belief by the emergence of supernatural good, enfused with a positive mission, focused and determined, full of faith even when challenged or in danger or meeting death. Yes, you can recover. When Jesus restores, he takes less and makes more. There is a life worth living, even after the deepest darkness and the most piercing pain.

From Hebrews 12:2: "...Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross..." What was that joy? After all, isn't the world a pretty miserable place? Hasn't human history been filled with war, disease, oppression, and dishonesty---even among those who claim to be "religious"  or "spiritual"? Even when we find happiness and contentment within our circles of family, friendship, church, or work, we cannot remain isolated from the wider world. In spite of the pain that has lined human history, God has always lived in the hearts and minds of those who follow him in love. Although we cannot see the full picture of the souls committed to love and serve God, these souls are visible and known to him. These souls bring him joy! In the midst of sadness and injustice of every kind,  there are those who continue to trust in the love of God. Some are alone in their faith. Others worship in a church or other gat...

Jesus offers freedom. Freedom is the will and ability to act upon the higher elements of your gifts, temperament, and personality. What's stopping you? Very likely,  you are stopped by some combination of fear, peer pressure, and self-doubt. You can be free of these, but freedom won't come easily or instantly. Begin. Begin now. Follow Jesus.

Fatigue often accompanies the struggle for renewal. Choosing to go against "the grain", against an established pattern, calls to the deepest parts of our hearts. Rest, a coming away from daily demands and routines, is a requirement for growth. There is no virtue in refusing to accept and embrace a time of renewal and refreshment. Jesus, the God-Man, regularly stepped away from the crowds for a time of prayer and quiet reflection. In this practice,  I will follow my leader.

"Jesus wept". It is the shortest verse in the Bible (John 11:35). Jesus was acquainted with grief. He didn't live in grief, but he knew and understood it. That should be our formula as well. If we live honestly and see what's around us, we will be acquainted with grief. Then, we will move on. We will not bury or deny our grief. In fact, if we have been deeply wounded, some part of us will be changed--perhaps forever. When we reach that place, we can choose to welcome and engage Jesus the Resurrector. He restores life. There are no guarantees he will restore the life we had, or the life we'd hoped to have. He may restore us to something wildly different from what we'd imagined. It will be good. His call to follow comes with a single promise: come with me and allow the life of God to live in you. See and experience fear, then deny and crush it. Come to the end of yourself in sadness and pain and learn a new way to live. Allow Jesus to resurrect you into th...

Jesus always encourages us to face our fears. Then, he says "fear not." He's telling us not to be consumed by fear, not to hold the energy of fear within us, and not to accommodate our lives to the things we fear. When we go with Jesus, there is always some stress involved because we are constantly uncovering and defeating our fears. We don't do this alone.  He goes with us because we chose to go with him. It's a journey of love: a loving God teaches his beloved creature to live beyond fear. Beyond fear, there is only love.

Yes, there are easier journeys. There are journeys requiring less change, journeys of fewer challenges, journeys filled with ease and comfort. But when God calls you to walk with him, there is no finer road to walk. The journey brings the vision to life. There is nothing better.