The following comes from a blog published on August 6, 2018
When we are in a time of transition, it can feel as though we are losing our grip. We might be holding on for dear life - with both hands - yet somehow things are slipping through our grasp. It is a horrible feeling to see what we once had (our previous experience of 'normal') slowly drift and shift away from us. With this departure comes the stark realization that we are not really in control.
When I was a kid, we had a set of monkey bars in my backyard. My Dad and Grandpa built what amounted to be a horizon ladder of iron bars onto an older metal swingset. Hand over hand, you would move from one side to the other. Sometimes I would hang from the bars to see how long I could last. Though I managed to hold on for a few minutes, there would always come the point when my hands would lose their grip. My unrealistic goal of dangling indefinitely, which would have been a clear illustration of my 'super strength,' was never achieved. I always lost grip, my hands invariably slipped.
So it goes as we desperately try to hold onto the past and what once was. Despite our efforts, we don't have the strength for indefinite dangling. Eventually, our sore hands and tired arms will give out. When that happens, we fall to the ground. Midst life transitions, the horrible experience of 'losing our grip' is par for the course. Change suddenly thrust upon us - even the good stuff - can make us despair and cry out. What is more, there is a spiritual dimension to all of this. As our hands slip, we might wonder where we can find God?
Jesus' earthly ministry occurred at a time of great transition and uneasiness. The old understandings of God and faithfulness came into direct conflict with the heart of Jesus' (and John the Baptist's) preaching. To a people who were losing grip, the message was basic: trust in God and repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand. Trust (also translated 'believe") is not to be confused with strict adherence to a list of fundamental doctrines, as the Pharisees advocated. Instead, it is the deep yearning for connection to the Creator all the while knowing that we are permanently attached to God's steadfast love and faithfulness. Huh?
It is a bit of a paradox. From the moment of our first breath, God's spirit is present in our life. Our very existence depends on the constant renewing breath of life. AND, we are on a continual journey of seeking God's Spirit. To quote St. Augustine; "Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee." Simultaneously we are linked with God (by God's good grace) and we are disconnected (by our insatiable need always be in control and do things our way).
When Jesus announces that the Kingdom of God is near, he points to the spiritual reality that God has never left our life or the life of this world. Trusting in and turning to God's direction of grace, love, and hospitality, we find the truth of Jesus' words. We begin to see things differently. Joy and delight appear. Hope emerges.
Real repentance, inspired by the teaching and ministry of Jesus, is a redirection of life for the sake of our life with God at this moment and the moments to come. Let me be clear. Our action of turning and trusting/believing doesn't activate God's love. God's love is constant and never-ending. Our turning towards God does, however, make a difference in how we experience that love - it makes it real for us. When we recognize God's love, we take residence in it.
Dwelling in God's presence, life takes on a new vibrancy for us. Joy and delight come from walking in God's ways. That doesn't mean that magically everything is perfect and rosy. But it does mean that there is hope no matter what our new reality might be; we can rest in the knowledge that we are not alone. God is with us. What is more, God's love inspires imitation and duplication. Recipients of steadfast love, we are encouraged to go and do likewise in our interactions with others.
Love invites us to have courage. Instead of fretting as we find ourselves losing our grip, love beckons us to let go of a past that is no more. Love looks to new relationships and experiences for the life that they contain for us. Let go and with open hands welcome the future in the sure and certain hope that we remain in the reality of God's eternal love and that love will ultimately make us whole.
In Christ’s Light,
Walt
You might want to check out my book,Lighting Your Way, With Love. In it, I reflect upon the experience of my oldest son leaving for a university to talk about navigating transitions. It contains lots of practical guidance for anyone facing change, no matter the age.
Lighting Your Way, With Loveis available through Amazon and the Light From This Hill website. If you order from my website, you receive a bonus - a FREE subscription to the devotional series which presents the content of the book as a daily online devotional sent to your inbox in time for your morning coffee.
As a reader of IGNITE, enter the code READER (all caps) at checkout and receive 10% off. It is a way for me to say thank you for reading what I have to offer - Walt
Copyright 2018. Walt Lichtenberger. Permission granted to share with family and friends.