Grounded
For those of you who were unable to be with us in Cincinnati for our retreat with Dwight Judy, I would like to share with you the essence of one of the prayer stations entitled “Staying Anchored in Tumultuous Times.”
We certainly are living in tumultuous times when everything seems to be changing at warp speed, and not all for the good. There are times when I feel as if I’m in the outer whirlwinds of a tornado or a hurricane, being tossed around and pressured into conforming. But then I remember that inside a tornado, inside a hurricane, there is an “eye” that is calm and still.
In Romans 12 we hear Paul say, “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect. … Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers. … Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. … Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
“Do not be conformed to this age…” How can we resist the pressures to conform? When there is normalization of attitudes, speech, and behaviors that are demoralizing, dehumanizing, and cruel, how can we let our love be genuine? Henri Nouwen in his book entitled “Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life” says the following. “The first and most important spiritual task is to claim God’s unconditional love for ourselves. To remember who we truly are in the memory of God.” And, “God does not require our success, popularity, or power in order to love us. Once we discern our identity and accept God’s unconditional love, we are free to live in the world without being owned by the world. We can forgive those who hurt or disappoint us without letting bitterness, jealousy, or resentment enter our hearts. The most beautiful fruit of claiming your belovedness is a joy that allows us to share God’s unconditional love with others.” (emphasis is mine)
As you reflect on the passage from Romans and the quotes from Henri Nouwen, ask yourself:
- What helps me to “not be conformed to this age”?
- Is God calling me to a specific spiritual practice to help me stay grounded in my belovedness?
- How might I live in this tumultuous world from the center of my being (my essence, my True Self, my soul)?
Lord, you have called us to be in the world and not of the world. Show us how to stay grounded in you and give us the courage to live in this world from the center of our being which is you. Through you name, Jesus Christ, we pray. AMEN
Reflection by Christine McHenry, MD, MATS, DHL, Member of the Board of the Fellowship of United Methodist Spiritual
Directors and Retreat Leaders
This reflection represents the view of the author.