Good morning…
My old iPhone 5-S died. I posted about that yesterday. As the day unfolded, it became clear: our morning message was not about my phone. It was about our shared sense of losing touch. Stripped by the chaos of Corona, our economic breakdown, and the unrest of injustice, collectively we have lost a lot. As manmade lifelines are severed, one by one, we are reducing down to God alone.
“Hi Sue,” one of you wrote. “Your post this morning really spoke to me. I had been doing a bible exercise over the weekend about the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-9) and specifically — Blessed are the poor in spirit. With the definition of ‘poor in spirit’ being those that are utterly dependent on God in all things.”
She went on to explain: “So — the practical exercise was to make a list of things that we lean on besides Jesus. Anything that might fulfill us or distract us — and to offer that up to God. I made my list and at the top was — my computer, which I saw as connection to the world (especially in these social distancing days) and a source of information.”
“And,” she continued, “yesterday afternoon our whole house internet went out.”
I marveled at the similarity between our stories. During this long period of pandemic, my cell phone has become my lifeline to loved ones I cannot see, I cannot touch, I cannot enjoy face to face. And after many faithful years, my old iPhone died. It went blank. It had no power. It lost all connection.
She continued: “We have placed the order for a new modem which will arrive in a few days but — this — and — your post — have really stopped me in my tracks to ponder — ‘What do we really need?’ I will continue to pray about this and what I am being invited to learn — Would love to hear you thoughts on this.”
So, in the middle of the night I quietly ponder, “God what are Your thoughts on this?” These are the words rising up from within to fill my blank journal page.
As I sit still in these early hours with our living LORD, I sense, “Up and out requires down and through.”
Down below defenses, division, differences. Down below the unsettling surface of things. Down below what is seen, what is cherished, what is grabbed as a god. First we need to go down.
Gradually we need to break through our build up of self-protective layers. Break through to tap God’s endless inner stream. Break through to creative, soulful collaboration. Break through this present darkness to be filled with God’s inextinguishable light. When suffering breaks us down, we need to go through.
Next we need to be lifted up to experience God’s higher way. Be filled up with the Source of guiding light. Be woken up by God’s power lying dormant within. Then, as we are buoyed up, we need to go out. Empowered we reach out, loving with God’s love. Over time we fan out, freely sharing God’s healing Spirit. Authentically we expand out into our hurting world — Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7, NLT).
As I sit still in these early hours with our living LORD, I sense, “Up and out requires down and through.”
The heart of Jesus’ teaching is this: “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs” (Matthew 5:3-9, NLT).
No computer or cell phone required. Only God with us.
…Sue…
