Thursday, March 17, 2005

18 March 2005

Another word from Walter Brueggemann.

The newness from God is the only serious source of energy. ...The prophet must not underestimate his or her urgent calling, for there are no other sources of newness. I am aware that this runs dangerously close to passivity, as trust often does, and that it stands at the brink of cheap grace, as grace must always do. But that risk must be run because exiles must always learn that our hope is never generated among us but always given to us. And whenever it is given we are amazed.

Sometimes we can be so afraid of what might go wrong that we lose the courage to imagine what might go right. That is, what might be an amazing witness to the grace of God right in the middle of our lives. "We can't go there" needs to hear from "We are taking the leap" or "We have been there and it is unlike anything we ever knew." Trusting what love God has for all God's people will take us beyond ourselves and into the world of others. Once there - once we have taken the risk to trust God's power to create relationships out of nothing - we may never be the same and we may never stop changing and being made new and be filled with an energy for life that nurtures life all around us.

Connection: We know what "oldness" is. We know what yesterday could bring into our lives. Now, what about now?!? There is always the opportunity to be amazed by what God is about to do with us now and forever.

O Breath of Life and Creator of What is and What is to be, we count on you to hold us and to lead us. When we hold back and do not want to be led, shine your light of grace upon us that we may see beyond this day into the possibilities of your Blessed Reign. Amen.

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