Recently, I have been in conversation with more than one person who said, “I feel like I need a really good cry.” I know the feeling. There is so much to cry about these days: one more school shooting in our conference (this one at Denver’s East High School), the climate crisis, a fractured church, a world at war, bans on books, legislation that puts our trans siblings at risk…sometimes all I have are sighs too deep for words.
I spent this week in Montana, first at a Montana clergywomen’s
retreat and then at our United Methodist-related Rocky Mountain College in
Billings. When I turned into my driveway yesterday, I was surprised to see that
a tulip plant had burst from the ground and was drinking up the sunlight. It
wasn’t there when I left last Sunday. And this morning, it was partially
covered in snow but by the afternoon, it was once again reaching up towards the
sun.
God built resiliency into all creation. Paul reminds us of
the strength we find in God to persevere all that befalls us:
When all seems so wrong and so bad, lean into the grace of
God. When it feels as if your heart can simply not bear one more bit of bad
news, remember that Love will continue to burst forth in your life and in our
world again. When your soul is weary beyond words, remember the renewal Jesus
offers you:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy
burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and
learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls. For my yoke is easy, and
my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)
I pray
for the healing of the world. May we find strength in Jesus Christ to extend
God’s healing Love in our broken world.
