Image by UW Digital Collections via FlickrI have been watching the live video streams this week from the ELCA Churchwide Assembly taking place in Orlando Florida. While listening to debates over policy makes my eyes glass over, the committee reports brim over with inspirational passion. Story after story is shared of making difference in lives of people suffering from malaria in Africa to tornadoes in Missouri. Powerful stuff.
Each day a communion worship service takes place. I have stopped all my activities and worshipped in my office, virtually transported to Florida.
Bishop Mark Hanson’s sermon the first day still lingers with me. He read from Luke’s gospel the story of Mary being told she will carry God’s child. Hanson asked the question:
Like Mary, are we ready to be moved by the power of the Holy Spirit?
Am I ready?
Am I ready for God to interrupt my routine and expectations?
Am I prepared to let go of my feeble attempts to control my future and really trust in His care?
Am I ready?
I recall two incidences this year where I did trust God and did what I felt He was calling me to do. Both times I didn’t feel ready at the time and it was only after prayer and trusting Him, did I know the next step I should take. I did not feel ready.
Am I ready?
When I first step out into the unknown, only clinging to faith and trust and God’s promises, no I am NOT ready!
To me being ready means I know where I am going. I am fully equipped with what I need. My heart is completely committed to finishing the task. All arrangements are on file and organized in multicolored alphabetical files.
Instead I feel unworthy, vulnerable and lost. I am ready ONLY through the power of the Holy Spirit. I draw on the Lord’s courage and strength to proceed.
When will I ever feel ready?
I am ready when God is ready to let me know I am ready. And usually that is not in beginning.
Maybe the sense of readiness comes after the first step or first month or first year when I faintly finally find His fingerprints. We may never be completely prepared for much of what we face in life.
Am I ready?
No Bishop Hanson I am not.
But I think I will stay with this question for a while and listen to its uncertainty and inquisitiveness.
I will learn more from the question than the answer.
I will learn more from the question than the answer.
I love this part: I am ready on with the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, if I don’t have that too much of me gets in the way.
Good points. I am still pondering this question and think my lesson is I will never feel fully ready and just need to go when called.
I think I’m only ready when I can fall into His arms with abandon, leaving behind my lists and alphabetized files as I proclaim, “You do it Your way, Lord — in Your time.”
I need to be willing to fall more often…
I think the issue Jean, is that we’re so stuck in our limitations that it’s difficult for us to release those safeguards and place everything in God’s hands. Like you, I’ve “stepped out in faith” a number of times this year, but I’ve also caught myself pulling back into my “fleshly safe zone” at least as many times. We’re works in progress to be sure, but thankfully He is ever-faithful and will bring us where He wants us to be as long as we proceed with an open heart.
Have a Blessed Day!