Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I don’t remember whether it was Kay or Pr. Charlie who, a little over a year ago, first introduced me to “Unfolding Light” (a daily poem, by Pr. Steve Garnaas-Holmes, reflecting on the upcoming week’s assigned readings1). And by the time this Innernet reaches your email box, we will already have heard the gospel lesson that contains Matthew’s Great Commission (which is the inspiration for his poem, below). That said, I think what he says here matters greatly. Likely, it always has but feels even more important these days when it seems that, rather than modelling or being examples, folks are trying to yell or shame each other into line (whatever they interpret being “in line” means).
(By the way, the word “disciple” here, is a verb: Go disciple people everywhere…Go be a model for people everywhere, an example of what it means to claim to be a follower of the risen one.)
By your example
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.
—Matthew 28.19
By your example,
you can make of anyone you meet
a student of love,
a practitioner of kindness,
a follower in the way
of deep trust in grace.
By your example
you may so touch people
that something in them heals;
you can so intrigue people
that they want to follow.
You will not convince anyone.
But you may allure them.
They will not drop everything,
but something in them may be changed.
It’s not you, of course,
it’s the Spirit you bear.
Be a vessel.
Blessings on you and on any summer travelling you may do. And blessings on your example.
+ Pr. Sara
1 You can sign up to receive daily “Unfolding Light” emails by clicking the link below: