More about worms
Struggling in God’s hands.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about a morning liturgy. When I’m walking and see a worm on the pavement, I catch it and throw it back into the grass. Have you tried picking a worm up off the pavement? It’s not easy. When they’re stretched out, clinging to their world, it’s hard to get a hold on them.
But if I just touch them first, they wriggle their way right into my hands.
This is a good metaphor for me and God. So long as I cling to my world, I’m difficult for God to grasp. He sees me headed for danger. He sees I’m going to dry out in the harsh sun. But, for the moment, I’m comfortable—oblivious to God’s care.
Then he touches me. Maybe with a sunset. Maybe with a sting. He has my attention and I wriggle into his hands. Safe.
Move to a place of safety. Now!
Our refuge is a Person.
Since Isaias came through, our Leland, NC neighbors have been dealing with tornado cleanup. Next to storm surge, the threat of tornadoes can be the scariest part of a hurricane. Our TVs and phones alert us repeatedly to find a place of safety. Now!
Where are your places of safety? When we were young children ― and if we were fortunate to have a healthy family ― our place of safety was a person. If we were frightened, we ran to Mom or Dad. But in our adult sophistication, we run to safe rooms and safe deposit boxes.
2020 has been a tornado. It would be good for us to remember that God is our refuge. In Christ, we are his kids and he is our perfect Father. Maybe this year we will rediscover that our real ‘place of safety’ is a Person, and not a place at all.
Connected
Separated from Jesus, we wither.
This week Hurricane Isaias made a quick visit. Once again we pile limbs at the street. It's a reminder of the importance of connection. These branches still look fresh and green but we know it won't last. Jesus told us that our fruitfulness depends on our connection to him (John 15:4-5).
Life flows from the Father, through Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. If our life is fruitful (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control), it's because of our connection to Christ. Our lives are grafted into his (Rom. 11:17) and we are wholly dependent on that bond.
Jesus said "Remain in me and I will remain in you."
- love
- Holy Spirit
- humility
- church
- politics & society
- mission & witness
- holiness
- parable & metaphor
- identity
- eternal life
- doubt & deconstruction
- leadership
- grace
- justice
- scripture
- spiritual life
- advent & christmas
- poverty & compassion
- imagination & creativity
- technology & ai
- knowing God
- human dignity
- faith & trust
- incarnation & cross
- kingdom of God
- community
- reconciliation
- spiritual formation
- epistemology
- prayer
- gratitude
- culture
- creation & nature
- discipleship
The God of the Bible looks like Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being. It would be just like him to go to the cross.