Good morning…
When I meet a new word, I am exceedingly grateful for Wikipedia, the free, online encyclopedia. Yesterday I was introduced for the first time to the noun “liminality.” Wikipedia teaches me, “In anthropology, liminality (from the Latin word līmen, meaning ‘a threshold’) is the quality of ambiguity or disorientation that occurs in the middle stage of rituals, when participants no longer hold their pre-ritual status but have not yet begun the transition to the status they will hold when the ritual is complete. During a ritual’s liminal stage, participants ‘stand at the threshold’ between their previous way of structuring their identity, time, or community, and a new way, which the ritual establishes.”
Individually and collectively, we find ourselves surrounded by a time of ambiguity and disorientation. Experientially we are being taught the concept of “liminality.” We stand at the threshold between our previous way of structuring our identity and our time ……and…… a new way of grounding our selves and our community in God’s higher way of being.
Into what daily rituals are we invited to invest ourselves? Philippians 4:4-9 in the Amplified Bible gives us six concrete tasks upon which to center ourselves during this time of transition.
1) Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!
2) Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.
3) Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
4) Trust that…the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
5) Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
6) The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen…practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.
As we rejoice, trust, and practice, centering our minds and hearts upon biblical truth, God’s higher way of being will be established in us as we influence our community.
…Sue…
