10-26-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 26, 2023
The author, Nikki Rowe, wrote, “Solitude is where I place my chaos to rest and awaken my inner peace.” I love those words, but I cannot say for sure how I do that. I believe she is right, but like so many wonderful quotes, we can repeat them joyfully without a clue to how we live them. If you’re like me, a six-step process is always helpful—one that includes a timeline. As we begin our conversation this Sunday on how self-care is not selfish, I ponder the words of the resurrected Jesus in John’s Gospel when he stood among his frightened disciples and said, “Peace be with you.” Imagine you are one of the disciples, a follower of a teacher who was executed for sedition by the world's greatest superpower. You’ve got to be thinking to yourself, “Am I next?” Peace enters the room in the form of a once-dead man whom God has brought back to life. My initial reflection is to find more shock than peace as one who still bears the marks of crucifixion enters the room, but as I think more about that moment, there are times we require something out of the ordinary if the cycle of fear is to be broken. So maybe one of those 'steps' in trying to find rest from the chaos and awaken to our inner peace is to do whatever we can to leave open the door for Jesus to enter. In the story from John 20, Jesus enters in spite of the door being locked. But the more intentional we are about opening the door, the better chance we will notice Jesus entering in, and with his presence, the unhealthy cycles that keep us from rest and peace might be broken.

As I make more space for you, O Spirit of Christ, I pray that you will help to disrupt the unhealthy cycles in life that keep me from knowing the peace you so desire to give. Amen.