Loading...That is one DOOZY of a storm!
Hurricane Isaias blowing rain and trees sideways
Spawning tornados
Power outages
When the eye of a storm comes through – what a relief, until you get the backside of the storm!
A hurricane or tornado are two of nature’s examples of chaos.
They are helpful for me, as images, to understand the chaos of life.
That is, not something I did,
or even that community did
(maybe their number or severity has increased,
but storms themselves? -- Part of nature).
In other words, I didn’t cause, not in my control.
Changes my response, and my answers to some of these question:
In the midst of chaos, what do we do?
What do we experience –in the body?
What do we hear – from God?
Where do we focus our trust?
How is the Spirit present in and for us?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter and the other disciples were in the midst of a fierce storm!
They were afraid
Jesus walks out toward them and they think they are seeing a ghost.
Peter’s response....
In the midst of chaos, what do we do?
What do we experience – in the body?
What do we hear – from Jesus?
Where do we focus our trust?
How is the Spirit present in and for us?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elijah had been thorough in the midst of a storm
He was scared!
Battle of the gods, killing of false prophets, bounty on his head
Run away to the wilderness, fed by ravens,
led to holy mountain, complained!
Encountered God and responded – not to earthquake, wind, or fire – but to silence
In the midst of chaos, what do we do?
What do we experience -- in the body?
What do we hear – from God?
Where do we focus our trust?
How is the Spirit present in and for us?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Such turmoil right now around us:
Covid-19 and societal racial upheaval
Can feel so chaotic and upsetting
reminds me of post-fire desire to rebuild ASAP
and in a familiar style
Can blame selves for problem,
as though individual effort will change things
Can blame others, as though chaos is external to us.
Yet, how do we respond?
In the midst of chaos, what do we do?
What do we experience – in the body?
What do we hear – from Jesus?
Where do we focus our trust?
How is the Spirit present in and for us?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved,
and though the mountains shake in the depths of the sea;
though its waters rage and foam,
and though the mountains tremble with its tumult....
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Ps. 46: 1-3, 7)
