How brave you are........

It takes courage to live in faith, in the spaces between knowing and knowing, in a world where critique is a national hobby and skepticism our regular pastime.

It takes courage to listen to that voice which comes to you claiming a greater power, a power that is life and love ..... when the constant messages of this world and the suspicions of our neighbors make us wonder if we aren't a little bit crazy.

It takes courage to allow that which is greater than we, God/Christ/Spirit, to be that which is greater than we.  It requires that we live in places of total unknown, allow the person of Jesus to actually shape our lives, and trust in the path of love and forgiveness.  It requires stamina and courage.  It all points to "a force stronger than the anxious formulas of religion: a radically inclusive love that accompan[ies] people in the most ordinary of actions - eating, drinking , walking  - and stays with them, through fear, even past death."

All those stories about Jesus eating with his neighbors, friends, and enemies; those stories about Jesus healing strangers and teaching the most obstinate show us that the Jesus kind of love locates holiness in the human body.....and in human bodies....and the promise that people "could see God by cherishing all those different bodies the way God did."  Pouring yourself out for others, "emptying yourself to feed and live for others"  speaks of a communion deeper, richer, wider, stronger than even the precious meal Christ brings to us in each communion celebration.  It means a communion of all.

That is what the voice of God has been saying to us all these years.....don't just come to the table yourself, take the table to all who hunger and thirst.  It will look a little crazy to those who find themselves eating at God's table; some days it will look impossible to you.  That's where the courage comes in.....to live in love for the sake of the world.  That is where the strength of the faith fellowship sustains and emboldens each of us.

Go with God.  God goes with you.


*the inspiration and quotes for today's blog come from a spectacular book, 'take this bread' by Sara Miles, pg. 93.  Order a copy today, it's the best reading I've done in months and I'll want to share its insight with others.