One of my favorite phrases I use to describe the life of being a follower of Jesus is to say it is "an adventure for life." Like an adventure movie, we are taken beyond our boundaries or borders and we are set down into a new situation that will begin to test us and insist that we put to use all our gifts and talents. We enter this day with the stories of our past - faithful stories - and we engage new stories. Our stories can serve as a stronghold that inspires life in new situations. That life is always becoming new as we mix the stories of our past with the stories we create within the adventures of this day. Stanley Hauerwas also uses the image of an "adventure when he writes about "stories that provide a way to locate ourselves in relation to others, our society, and the universe." He writes: Stories capable of doing that may be thought of as adventures, for there can be no self devoid of adventure... Moral growth comes exactly through the testing of my role amid the other possibilities in the adventure. The adventure moves us out of ourselves and into a greater awareness of the fullness of life that is God given and yet, may not be quite like...my life. The adventure enables us to explore the vast expanse of God's grace that is beyond what I may call my own stories.
Connection: All kinds of experts say that communities (and churches) will resist diversity. We will, they say, settle into some type of homogeneous grouping. That grouping may be quite broad...middle class...white...African-American....whatever. Though this seems to be the case, I find that in such homogeneous groups we lose the opportunity for adventure. Accepting the notion that we tend to stick to homogeneous groups, how will your day pull you into an adventure for life that is outside of the expected.
Lord of All, lead us, guide us, and bring us face to face with the many textures of your blessed reign. Remind us that we are made whole as we have the opportunities to experience the wholeness of your creation. Amen.
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