Leap of faith

Blown by the Wind…

As the waves rose to the height of their ascent, each carried a line of mist as the force of the wind surfed across the top. Water and wind driving against each other, competing, wave after wave. Which would win? … As if only one could.

Be driven, not aimless, or as if by wind.
Be driven, not reckless… ruthless, or by tide.
Be driven, not fearful… anxious, or by mind.
Be driven by heart, soul, and Spirit combined.

WindBlown

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man’s table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Abraham replied,
‘My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go
from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.’
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'” – Luke 16:19-31

Coming Together and Falling into Place…

Over the past number of weeks, I have had the opportunity to sit in a passenger seat beside my son as he learns to drive a car. I would be lying if I did not admit to the experience as being more than a little intense, and perhaps a little scary, at times. However, as time has passed and miles driven have accumulated, it has become more enjoyable, feeling more like a privilege as milestones—watching turns become easy, successful navigation of rotaries, crossing busy intersections, traveling roads with higher speed limits, etc.—have been reached. The process and progress seem to be coming together and everything (knowledge, skills, confidence, and belief) falling into place.

Thinking back on the beginning of this journey with my son, it all started, like many things, with overcoming any trepidation and taking a leap of faith. Gaining strength from the desire within—“I want to.” Then, with some support and encouragement, a vision—“I think I can.” Finally, moving into action and proceeding with patience—“I know I can, because I am.”

On the countless roads we travel, sometimes old or familiar, sometimes new, a reminder that while the surface and surroundings may change, underneath, and at the heart of whatever matter it may be, it is really all the same. Walk (or drive), but go by faith.

APlaceB

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. – Hebrews 11:8-16

 

This Alone…

As a child, I remember being struck by the great change in Moses’ appearance at one point when he came down from the mountain. Moses, as portrayed by the actor Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments, now had a face that was aglow and silver streaked hair. I recall watching intently and listening, wanting to know more about what had happened between him and God. It was clear that Moses’ experience was a pretty big deal, changing not only his appearance, but also seemingly strengthening his resolve and helping him to journey onward once more.

In the Book of Numbers (chapter 11, verses 25-29), it is written that the Lord imparted some of the spirit that had been given to Moses unto a number of others, seventy elders to be exact. Just verses before that, Moses had asked and questioned the Lord about the current situation. He also expressed his thoughts and feelings regarding the struggle to lead the people through the wilderness while trying to deal with their growing unhappiness. In verse 11, Moses said to the Lord, “I cannot carry all this people by myself, for they are too heavy for me.”

The Lord hears Moses and responds, lessening the weight Moses feels upon his shoulders, reminding him that he is not alone, and providing what he needs to continue his part in carrying out God’s will. Eldad and Medad, who we are told were on the list of the seventy elders, but who were not in the group that had gathered to receive the spirit, also began prophesying. When this is reported to Moses, Joshua, his “assistant,” is of the mind that Eldad and Medad must be stopped at once. However, Moses, his heart fixed on God’s will and his desire to cooperate with it steady and strong, is not only able to see the truth, but also to speak it.

We are all God’s people… all called to be prophets… all called to participate in carrying out, and cooperating with, God’s will.

Moses believed and bought into God’s grace, placing it, rightfully, above human judgment and understanding. He took the leap. Do we?

Knock, and He’ll open the door
Vanish, and He’ll make you shine like the sun
Fall, and He’ll raise you to the heavens
Become nothing, and He’ll turn you into everything. – Rumi

ThisAlone

The LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses.
Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses,
the LORD bestowed it on the seventy elders;
and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied.

Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad,
were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp.
They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent;
yet the spirit came to rest on them also,
and they prophesied in the camp.
So, when a young man quickly told Moses,
“Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp, “
Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses’ aide, said,
“Moses, my lord, stop them.”
But Moses answered him,
“Are you jealous for my sake?
Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!
Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!” – Numbers 11:25-29

Cloaked in Courage…

A long time ago, there was a woman with an illness for which there seemed to be no cure. She tried everything she could possibly try within the realm of conventional or traditional practices. However, the only changes were negative as both the condition of her health, and her wealth, continued to suffer.

After being through so much over the course of many years, the woman was moved to try something not only different, but also bold and new. It would take courage, especially given the times in which she lived and her status in society. It would also require a great leap of faith. However, as nervous or afraid as she might have felt, when she considered all things, deep down she knew that trying more of the same, would only lead to further suffering. She came to see that she needed to do something different, so she did, and it made all the difference.

Oftentimes, steadfastness can be confused with, or perhaps too tightly associated with, choices that are “conventional” or “traditional.” Yet, when looking through the eyes of faith and one’s experience along with tradition, and Scripture, God’s steadfastness is not stagnant, nor is it ever tied to the “rules” of the time, space, or place in which one might find themselves.

In many ways, and as seen through all of Scripture, including the life and ministry of Jesus, God is always present as well as constantly evolving. At the same time, God calls each of us to evolve, too.

The woman who suffered with hemorrhages for twelve years certainly had faith. We can also surmise that she had been praying all that time too in addition to seeking medical help. However, her healing only came when she listened deep within, took courage, did the unconventional, and touched the cloak of Jesus.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.
She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors
and had spent all that she had.
Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd
and touched his cloak.
She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”
Immediately her flow of blood dried up.
She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,
turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”
But his disciples said to Jesus,
“You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,
and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?'”
And he looked around to see who had done it.
The woman, realizing what had happened to her,
approached in fear and trembling.
She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” – Mark 5: 25-34,