We continue to unfold into into the ever-present Reign of God - taken up into a life is full and present and available.
Finally, in order to unfold, our lives do not just need the strength to live, undivided love for life and sharpened senses. All these things happen within us. But we also need a surrounding space for living. That is also an experience of the Holy Spirit: our hearts are opened wide because we experience a wide space round about us: 'He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there is no more cramping', says Job 36.16. 'Thou hast set my feet in a broad room', acknowledges the Psalmist (31.8). What is this 'broad room' initially, except the unbelievable nearness of God in the Spirit, which surrounds us from every side? 'Thou surroundest me from every side and holdest thy hand over me,' says Psalm 139.5. If the infinite God surrounds our finite life from every side, then we stand in 'the broad room', and we live and unfold 'in God' as our life-space. We can live in God. According to Jewish traditions 'the broad room' is therefore a secret name for God: Makom.
Again, we see that this journey of ours is not one that is a solitary action. We unfold in that which is God's Reign - a place and time that is the fullness of time into which we become God's beloved. This broad room is big enough for all people. It is, I imagine, a place in which we are constantly surprised by all who can be and will be and are present. Too often, religious folks tend to make this life in God a narrow space so that we can somehow control how that space and time will be run. But then God refutes our attempts at such self-indulgent spinning. This is 'the broad room' that becomes known to us as God continues to be revealed to us. Our adventures in spirituality never close us up or push us away from any table. We are always pulled into this room filled with all God's beloved. Maybe we must see the disciplines of contemplation and spiritual renewal as worthwhile when we find our lives as conspirators within God's rooms.
Connection: There is a place in the room for each of us and all of us. Knowing that, the journey of life is shaped and brought to its fullness.
Spirit of Life, bring us near to our God that we might be brought near to all of God's beloved creation and in that, we might see our way through this day. Amen.
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