Friday 13 July 2007

Here is a closing thought to this week - again from "Mandate to Difference" by Walter Brueggemann.

...the faithful are called before the authorities to give an alternative account of reality, an alternative consisting in imaginative leaps beyond the given, imaginative leaps that at best are gifts of God's own spirit.

This is where we come off being a bit odd. We are called, and thus able, to "leap beyond the given" and be within that marvelous story of God people being led by God's own spirit. That Spirit is one that continues to invite us and encourage us to enter into this vision for life that upholds the life of all God's people. That becomes a part of a dramatic leap when we begin to consider how slow the church is willing to be in regard to taking a leap. We would sooner stay put. We would sooner stay back even if it means we leave people out of the gathering of saints. That action sounds to me like resisting the expansive nature of the Spirit. Leaping means we have a direction in mind. The direction or the landing place is along that road that is a part of the journey within God's ever-unfolding Reign. When we leap, we are - for a while - out of control. We throw ourselves out beyond what is into what is not yet - but what bids us to come. I like to think of the running broad jump. The jumper is looking out over that sand...always looking to go out beyond where the jumper has already been. The leap is with the whole body (have you ever tried it). The leap means to go to a new place. Sometimes it works...sometimes it falls short...sometimes it is an effort that earns a penalty. But in all those attempts to leap, there is that air-walking, body stretching leap that almost looks as though it is trying to defy gravity. Ah...defy gravity. Maybe that is what the faithful are called to do...live as though nothing can hold us back...live as though no rule can rule us by God's saving Reign.

Connection: Try it - leap...let go...be deliberate about imagining what is before us.

By your promises, O God, we do leap out from the places of our lives and we do take the risk to fly off into a place we have not yet experienced. And yet, we are only setting a pattern for our living. Once you have encouraged us to leap into your way, we are then encouraged to leap again and find out what else is a part of your glorious Reign. We give you thanks for your call to leap and live again - anew. Amen.