This image was what I saw to the right of me today at Quaker Meeting. We joyfully sat out under the backyard tree for our worship, and glorious, it was. The breeze was akin to a baptism, washing hope all over the place. The cicadas sang their own harmonies, and the tree stood tall and wide enough to shade all of us like a Big Mama hugging all of her children tight.
Earlier, this morning, I attended another worship service in a more formal setting. It was a hymn that blessed me there. It blessed me because I want to be faithful in what is unknown. One of my greatest struggles is that I feel that the world around me expects me to know... to know what is required in this life, to plug in, to join the status quo, and blend in. Instead, I seem to wander, not because I'm lost but because I'm on a mission to follow where God leads me. I want to live true to my Maker's dreams for my life and the lives of those around me. If I cannot live true to God's yearnings for my life, what am I living for? My voice choked as I sang, "Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don't know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you and you in me? Will you love the you you hide if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around, through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?"
With all of my heart, I am saying, "Yes."
God is calling my name and your name in every moment of every day. I want to keep practicing hearing that. I want to fall open and stay open like that wheelbarrow on the hill and take in everything that comes... and never be the same. Tell me, my friend, how are you coming alive today? How are you calming the fears that challenge your faith? How are you deciding to never be the same for the love of that which matters the most to you? Practice trusting. Practice listening for love and hope. Practice honoring the you that has been created for goodness and gladness. Practice welcoming all that is unknown as you find your way.
Earlier, this morning, I attended another worship service in a more formal setting. It was a hymn that blessed me there. It blessed me because I want to be faithful in what is unknown. One of my greatest struggles is that I feel that the world around me expects me to know... to know what is required in this life, to plug in, to join the status quo, and blend in. Instead, I seem to wander, not because I'm lost but because I'm on a mission to follow where God leads me. I want to live true to my Maker's dreams for my life and the lives of those around me. If I cannot live true to God's yearnings for my life, what am I living for? My voice choked as I sang, "Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don't know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you and you in me? Will you love the you you hide if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around, through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?"
With all of my heart, I am saying, "Yes."
God is calling my name and your name in every moment of every day. I want to keep practicing hearing that. I want to fall open and stay open like that wheelbarrow on the hill and take in everything that comes... and never be the same. Tell me, my friend, how are you coming alive today? How are you calming the fears that challenge your faith? How are you deciding to never be the same for the love of that which matters the most to you? Practice trusting. Practice listening for love and hope. Practice honoring the you that has been created for goodness and gladness. Practice welcoming all that is unknown as you find your way.
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