Dialogue Column 2.20.07--Thoughts on Lent

THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY by Rev. Chase Peeples

During my sermon on February 11, I mentioned a line by the poet Molly Wolf. She writes, “If we give God the slightest opening, some corner of the Spirit gets lodged in us like a splinter in the skin…[and] the spirit calls to our own inner selves…”

This line has stayed with me over the last two weeks. In my sermon, I was making a point about our need for sabbath or spiritual rest and reflection. Such spiritual R&R is hard to come by in our culture. Unlike everything else in our schedules, sabbath makes no demands upon us. It can always be put off—unlike the kids’ soccer games, the doctor appointments, the bills and your boss. Yet, in order for all these other things to have meaning, we must make time for ourselves and for God.

I guess Molly Wolf’s words have stuck with me, because they are hopeful. They remind me that God’s grace extends even to my mixed bag of priorities. I tend to think in extremes sometimes: either I carve out three hours every day for prayer or nothing! I set high goals—often unrealistic ones—that often go unmet. This is especially true of my spiritual life. Unfortunately, those unmet goals become a justification for giving up rather than thinking in a more realistic manner. Yet, the “slightest opening” implies that even our frenzied prayers while on the run or our brief moments to breathe and look around possess the possibility for God to speak to us and draw us close.

The love of God is not dependent upon our successes or failures at time management, goal-setting or schedule organization. “The slightest opening…” is room enough for the Spirit of God to touch us. Sure, a larger opening would allow God more room to work, but even the tiny space left in a hardened heart, a worried mind or a grieving spirit is enough for God to be in contact with us.

Wolf’s imagery of the Spirit “lodged in us like a splinter…” is also powerful, albeit a little bizarre. It seems strange to think of the work of God as a splinter. Splinters get stuck in our skin without us even realizing it, that is until they begin to hurt. Once we notice them, we spend all kinds of energy trying to remove that little piece of wood. It is astounding how difficult removing a splinter can be. Is this an appropriate way to think of God?

Although, I want to be careful not to abuse the metaphor, I believe that the image of God as splinter is exactly the way to think of God’s activity in our lives. I’ve found that God is far more likely to come to me in a manner I fail to notice than in a burning bush, an earthquake or an angelic visitation. Only when we feel that tingling sensation, however faint, do we become aware that God is communicating with us. We may seek to shake God loose or even pry God out of our lives, but thanks be to God, doing so is never easy. Should we choose to give in, that little splinter of the divine can call “to our own inner selves…”

Words like “slightest” and “splinter” are good words, because they remind us how God can use the smallest of entrances into our souls to offer healing, comfort and guidance.

This Lenten season, I have issued a challenge to the membership of First Christian Church to be present in worship each Sunday for the next five Sundays (provided you are physically and geographically able to do so). For some folks, this is no big deal. They come every week anyway. For others, this is a bigger challenge, because church does not regularly fit into their schedules. I would offer to the faithful attendee and the occasional drop-in that my point for issuing this challenge is not to pump up our attendance record (although it would be nice to meet some of you that I haven’t met yet). I would also offer to those with and without gold stars for attendance that it really doesn’t matter what your record has been. What matters is worship in Lent 2007 and what you make of it.

As we gather for worship each Sunday morning, everything that happens is geared towards allowing those “slight” openings to occur so that the “splinter” of God’s Spirit can lodge inside of you and me. Each service is an opportunity for your “own inner self” to hear God calling to you. I hope this season—the next five Sundays—you can respond to that little bit of the Spirit inside of you and join your community of faith in the worship of god. See you Sunday.

Grace and Peace,

Chase