Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 19, 2023
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Darkness and light
Brothers and sisters, you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
We woke up this morning to sunshine and snow, and the sky was blue, and the birds flew nearly frozen but not quite from nest to nest. I shivered. Margaret warmed up her new electric blanket. It was 15 degrees, but even then … the sun broke through everything.
Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness.
I asked my friends Jim and Chris if they’d rather lose their sight or hearing. I ask myself the same question. My eyes are crusty in the morning (this morning). Allergies attack often. My ears ring whenever I choose to hear them ring (I guess they’re ringing all the time, but I don’t notice). Jim and Chris choose to lose hearing. I choose sight.
Except who would take care of me?
Elizabeth Flora-Swick’s book Undefiled Access wonders the same thing. God provides “healing, prophecy, and care” to his disabled children. We are all disabled spiritually. The word that looms over the disability community is access. “The disability community values access like silver and gold” (p. 32). Elizabeth hires full time helpers to care for her physical needs. Usually they are students, who have their own schedules of breaks and vacations and exams. They are not always able to keep their commitments. For Elizabeth it can be a full time job to line up the help she needs. This is difficult for her. Now, nearing 30, she has learned much about waiting on God with patience.
Elizabeth has a way with words, and her prayers and praises ring in beauty.
I am willing to keep my heart open because I can hear God’s magnificent, triune heartbeat beckoning for my obedient response (p. 267).
I close my eyes and listen myself for that Heartbeat. Nowadays I am a little surprised when I wake up alive again. All the systems in my body are wearing out, although I don’t really notice it. God’s presence sings inside me second by second, day by day. Morning has broken, once again.
Awake O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light … Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. For thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Elizabeth begins her book:
I’ll make this as clear as the glassy sea. There are some promises for which I am willing to wait – access to God is not one of them.
God has given me “undefiled access” to himself, she says. But, she continues, God also has access to me. And our relationship sweet and clear and true arises every day.
For thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Metaphor aside, the literal truth behind these words carries me on, into the light of day, through the darkness of night, into the beauty all around.
 (1 Samuel 1, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5, John 8, John 9)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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