03-02-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
March 2, 2024
Change is hard! And though some people might suggest that they are fine with change, I tend to believe that group of people is much smaller than we might think, and the change that doesn’t bother them is change that does not really impact them. At the Men’s Retreat a few weeks back, Rev. Paul Koch, who served as our keynoter, talked a lot about the Hero’s Journey—this model of human transformation that begins with someone leaving home and eventually returning home a different person because of what occurred along the way (that is an oversimplification, missing many important details). Recently, Richard Rohr, the wonderful and thought-provoking Franciscan Monk, wrote the following:

By denying their pain and avoiding the necessary falling, many have kept themselves from their own spiritual journeys and depths—and therefore have been kept from their own spiritual heights.

In the Hero’s Journey, there is a call to the unknown adventure that is often initially met with a big NO! There is a refusal, often based on fear or some feeling of responsibility toward home. Eventually, there is the crossing of the threshold, the first step on the journey. But for those who are honest, they take that first step into the unknown knowing one thing—there are going to be some stumbles/falls along the way. Yet, if we are honest with ourselves, our greatest successes in life come after a fall—a fall and rising that only occurred because of the  risk and a willingness to face our fears and uncertainties.

I am mindful of the Prophet Isaiah, who wrote, “I am the Lord your God, who grasps your strong hand, who says to you, Don’t fear; I will help you.” 

When we hit the reset button in life and find ourselves at the threshold of something new, it is important for us to draw upon the resource of our faith. Whatever we might face, no matter how challenging or anxiety-producing, the reoccurring message of scripture is that we are not alone, and even when our falls are hard and painful, God is there to affirm us in love and help us to move forward.

You are gracious and generous, Eternal and Ever-Present God. No matter where we are in life and no matter what difficulties we might be facing, help us to lean upon your grace and take hold of your love. In doing so, even our greatest failures do not need to control our future. Amen.