God Is Always Near

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Ancient Songs Sung Anew, Deuteronomy, message, power of God, psalm 77, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Yesterday in the late afternoon I watched from my seat on our rider mower the sky getting continuously darker. The clouds were like a beautiful sea of waves, each one deeper gray than the one before. I wanted to stay out in it but I thought it might be time to end the lawn work. As I surrendered to an incomplete task done, a large clap of thunder made me know it was the right decision. Just as I eased the mower into its berth in the shed, torrents of rain began with a mighty wind for accompaniment. Next a loud breaking sound split the skies and we saw one of our huge, beautiful black walnut trees cracked in two and falling across the yard. Nothing else was harmed but we were amazed at the power of that wind. There was no lightning – just the wind…but what a wind it was.

This morning as I read the text from Deuteronomy (4: 32-40) and then the powerful words of Psalm 77—both speaking of the power of God for the people—I was struck most strongly by verses 17 to 20 of the psalm.  

Then with a peal of thunder the clouds of heaven broke. 
Your arrows flashed as lightning across the darkened skies. 
And from that mighty whirlwind, your flames lit up the world. 
You walked ahead through water, your path lay through the sea,
And though we never saw you take a step, you were our company. 
You led Moses like a shepherd, you took Aaron by the hand, 
And they became for us, the flock of God, your mighty rod and staff.
(Ancient Songs Sung Anew, p.192)

As it was in the beginning, so it remains—a powerful message for us all.

Peter, A Success Story

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Acts of the Apostles, church, gifts, Holy Spirit, power of God, St. Peter, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Chapter 9 of the Acts of the Apostles speaks of the many miraculous happenings as the Church was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit she grew in numbers. (vs. 31) As I read those lines from today’s lectionary text and the following examples of healings by Peter (vs.32-42) I tried to catch the feeling of power that must have accompanied their work. I thought then of Peter’s history and wondered if it was difficult at that point for him to remember that the power came from the Holy Spirit and not from himself.

Sometimes it takes awhile for us to truly wake up to the gifts that we have been given for good. Like Peter, some of us are impetuous and dive into things without much thought. Our intentions are good but we jump too fast without considering all of the consequences. On the contrary some of us are too slow to move for fear of making a mistake. There comes a time, however, if we are motivated by pure love, when something shifts within us and we can look in the mirror and see our true face. At that moment – and ever thereafter – we are certain of the power of God that is our heritage and our strength. We let go of the desire to be someone extraordinary and are content and able to listen for what some have called “the still, small voice of God” that works in us and companions us in our every moment.

I trust that as the Church grew, Peter grew as well in humility, trust and confidence. I believe that we, too, have the possibility of such “success.”