"None of us can follow Jesus yesterday. That day has come and gone. There is one day that one can take up this task—today." This thought arrested my attention. What a startling reality and a beautiful proposal. Thanks, AJ.
This really hit me as one banging their head on said wall multiple times in my journey, what a great reframe and timeless truth!
"This gives us a sacred treasure. The goal of Christian spirituality and formation is actually the art of admitting one’s inability to walk through walls. We have to start right there. We don’t have power to do these things. And as my student who spoke to me after chapel hits her own wall—as tempted to offer the tricks and tips—I must relent of my worship of human effort. She doesn’t need to walk through the wall. Rather, she literally can’t walk through the wall. The blessedness of her life is not making it to the other side to get what she thinks is somewhere else. The blessedness of her life is found in seeing how Christ has made his way to her side. And whispers to her “peace be with you.”
You may be standing at the wall. And if you are, well, take a deep breath. Stare at it. Don’t ignore it. But don’t forget to look at the resurrection and the life who stands right next to you who has no problem walking through them. And wants to show you how to unlock the door to come out."
It was this line for me - “What if the goal isn’t to get on the other side of the wall?”
We are so quick to look for escape plans and ways out. What if the beauty is in the waiting and simply “being with God.” In the midst of doubt.. In the deepest struggles with questioning..
What if? - Those are the places we can learn the most both of ourselves and of God.
"None of us can follow Jesus yesterday. That day has come and gone. There is one day that one can take up this task—today." This thought arrested my attention. What a startling reality and a beautiful proposal. Thanks, AJ.
My man! Thank you.
This really hit me as one banging their head on said wall multiple times in my journey, what a great reframe and timeless truth!
"This gives us a sacred treasure. The goal of Christian spirituality and formation is actually the art of admitting one’s inability to walk through walls. We have to start right there. We don’t have power to do these things. And as my student who spoke to me after chapel hits her own wall—as tempted to offer the tricks and tips—I must relent of my worship of human effort. She doesn’t need to walk through the wall. Rather, she literally can’t walk through the wall. The blessedness of her life is not making it to the other side to get what she thinks is somewhere else. The blessedness of her life is found in seeing how Christ has made his way to her side. And whispers to her “peace be with you.”
You may be standing at the wall. And if you are, well, take a deep breath. Stare at it. Don’t ignore it. But don’t forget to look at the resurrection and the life who stands right next to you who has no problem walking through them. And wants to show you how to unlock the door to come out."
I love it! Thank you, Wendy. So glad it connected.
It was this line for me - “What if the goal isn’t to get on the other side of the wall?”
We are so quick to look for escape plans and ways out. What if the beauty is in the waiting and simply “being with God.” In the midst of doubt.. In the deepest struggles with questioning..
What if? - Those are the places we can learn the most both of ourselves and of God.
Amen and amen, Kaleb!