2022-10-06 A Meditation on Simple Fidelity

“Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” (2 Co 1:9 ESV)

Non-stop attention paid out. Untold care administered. Wild currents of compassion experienced. So the party to the saint is now party to the accused, Peter and the others, Jesus’ meek earthly party; and us as the soldier are out there, making the non-stop administration one of love and care, giving sight and vision to the blind, making us to rely not on ourselves, but on God who does inform and does kneel down to our level.

Oh, you want some miracle show? You doubt what’s in yourself, and want some intel? Well, here you have it: a sideshow, yet compassion that ensures we are convinced no doubts nor denial can take us from the love that is in Christ Jesus. That is our intel, the spirit realm where what matters is some transition from Thursday Love to Friday crucifixion; each Friday a living memorial to a dying Savior, who does feed us with milk yet also with the strong meat of that Cross He stared down.

Abundant waters. Mercy for the party to the accused who, accustomed naturally to spiritual mysteries and untold miracles surrounding, blessing, walking with, his God, is now in panic mode in the presence of one not inimical to the faith perhaps, a woman he meets by the fire, and denying, speaking hastily as one not emboldened, not ordained by the Christ for ministry, not patient to pause and assess his words, to seek the deeper meaning of the encounter. He of all people should be high up the barometer of faith; natural thinking concedes this much to our Lord, that He had followers and disciples; yet, what of this one who as the paramount, emblematic disciple is already in cloud-cuckoo land regarding what he has learned and what are his marching orders.

So, what is the meaning of our encounters? We first of all are recruited and party to a daring opponent to the status quo; this Man our chosen friend and opponent to the harsh climes in which we dwell, the losses and reasons to have panic attack, is calmly and patiently drawing us through the valleys of doubt and death. This One is making us recipient of a no-time-to-delay call to spiritual arms, to be enlisted and to know everything has and shall change; we are bedrock this day, in finally coping with our pain and panic attack. We are bedrock in staring down an enemy who demurs and wishing to have a second go at it.

No, you said what you thought; and that was no legal statement. Your own apocalypse got the better of you. We startle and shake our head at the confused outlay, yet also do not concede that it is anything less than a tragedy; we do not concede that the doubt-filled and forced “miracle”, “sign”, “warning shot”, “claim of authority” is either successful or something completely to ignore.

Instead, patience reveals that meaning is resurrected and ill deeds are turned somehow to learning experiences; our Father in heaven using simple sign and wonder, and allowing His partner the Spirit in the Trinity, to overturn satanic motives to illustrate further the rabbit hole we’ve learned from, called Faith. The world calls it a rabbit hole; we call it a second birth. At the end of our journey is the bright light of Kingdom Now living.

We’ve gone in headfirst, so as to be held and nurtured and to recognize that Jesus’ Cross was a friendly gesture, a place we can dwell, not perpetually mourning, at least, not to the distraction from what matters, yet humble and meek, contrite a bit yet energized, holding barebones faith. Wow, seeing what Peter saw, we imagine all of us would be eager to serve and to laud and speak of Christ and to delight in His actions. But God makes each party somewhat helpful to His cause, and somewhat in need of further personal education as to what service consists of. So we believe in some perfect utility, some ad nauseum repentance turning a corner unto blessed exchange and no-fears conversation. We are now submitted, not brashly going through a stop sign. We are not any longer harassed and humbled by that retributive notion of our errors being immediately judged. If that equation ruled the day, we’d never emerge from this our birthplace, our womb. We’d always be in debt.

We no longer deny, and what we say in error is immediately exchanged for the common good, to teach a witness some lesson in their own hearts, perhaps. In any case, we bubble to the surface with ideas and both awkward and straightforward observations. Yes, this is a fearsome God, but likewise one who has strapped us in mightily for what signs and portents of an age to come, do come to our present age and reality. So let our confidence be contagious, and our life experience Cruciform, awaking simply to say one or two sage things, by accident, at least, without guile or pride or presumption. Let God make us students of our own thoughts, and let Him give us strength to face marvelous visions, the end of our blindness in a time and era transforming, overwhelming deeds of Service from that ministering Angel called Holy, creator and nurturer of each member of His chosen servants. Our vision is concrete, love for the loveless shown, aid for the penitent, and peace for the oppressed. But all of that with absolutely no debt; we are not personally responsible to save the world or heal the illness; His Spirit will give us outlay so far as our amount of faith allows, while it is He and Holiness of the Spirit that accomplishes the mercy.

So we can dwell near to our own well-humored take on our own foibles. “A complete wreck.” “Insane.” “Smart talking, but so devoid of anything spiritual.” “What gave him the right to rise from his knees?” These our inner critics are translated into something to give thanks for, as we thank the heavenly father for keeping us near to His Cross in His Son. For that Cross arrests us and changes our perspective; it is a better sign and portent as to what and how salvation is coming about, than any safe perch or nervous doubt. Peter’s doubts by that fireside did matter and did hurt his boss, but even that untimely failure has been, down through the centuries, turned to good use and our heart’s education.