Are you on your way?

-
On my phone, when someone calls, I get the option to send a message, instead of answering or simply declining. For instance, if I'm in a meeting, and I see my phone ring from someone I was expecting to call, I can send a message in two clicks that reads, "Can I call you later?" My favorite option, though, is, "I'm on my way." I usually send that one to close friends who call me, especially if they live in other cities. A priest friend from Austin called recently to ask about how we were doing Bible study. It was mid week around lunch time. I sent the automatic text, "I'm on my way." He wrote back, "Well hurry, I'm about to order lunch."

When I finally called him back, he asked where I was, and I told him I'm in Port Aransas, but I'm still on my way...always, at least while I'm alive, I'll be on my way, never quite arriving. In St. John's Gospel, Jesus make quite a few "I AM" statements. It is an echo of the un-name of God given to Moses when he spoke with the Burning Bush. "Tell them I AM sent you..." Jesus us tell us, "I AM the Good Shepherd..." for example. At one point, Jesus says, "I AM the Way..."

I have to figure out my own way, and Jesus is the Way that I am trying to follow. The community that followed Jesus Christ, before they were called "Christians," were the Followers of the Way. To me, that means that Jesus has done what he expects us to do as his followers. He healed people, fed people, brought together the religious and those considered unclean in his time. Each of the gospels spends an inordinate amount of writing on his final days; the Last Supper, arrest, the trail, condemnation, crucifixion, and burial. Then the empty tomb; the appearances; the presence of the Resurrected Christ with Followers of the Way.

That is for us to follow, too. In this season of Easter, I struggle to try to love as Christ loved, to have compassion and be in relationship with the religious and those considered unclean. I also want to go through a Resurrection and Transformation as Christ did. I seek to die to self, and live to God. I seek to remeber that I have been Baptized into Christ's Death, and Raised to the Eternal Life with Christ. I seek to make my very life an offering for God's service. Christ is the Way I seek to follow. I'm on my way, and it is to be a Follower of Christ.

So if you call and I can't answer, and get that weird response response from me. I might not mean I'm about to show up wherever you are. I might just be playfully reminding us that I'm seeking to be a Follower of The Way; seeking to live out the Resurrected Life Christ has given to us all.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

plastic: a spiritual perspective

-
Image
Plastic bag in front of Trinity by the Sea On a recent trip to Austin, I was surprised and delighted not to be handed a plastic bag when I checked out of a grocery store. I wasn't buying much, so I was able to carry out my things without remembering to bring in my reusable bags. For some time now, I've gotten in the habit of turning down plastic bags in convenience stores when they try to put my humble bag of sunflower seeds, lonely, in another bag. The plastic grocery bag has become like a handshake at the end of the deal: it seems to make the shopping experience complete. It is such an ingrained habit, that the person behind the cash register sometimes gets a suspicious look when I ask for no bag, as if thinking, "This yahoo is threatening our way of life!" I think about habits a lot, as a Christian of the Episcopal persuasion. Our practices and our experiences in everyday life shape the way we understand our relationship with God, with others, and with ours...
Read more

Stay Salty Y'all

-
Image
  Sunday, September 29: Be Salty for Jesus! Reflection for church while my back heals.  Welcome everyone to another church on the beach. Fr. James is dealing with his back injury, and sent this reflection to read, so here it goes.  I spent Thursday morning planning for the next two weeks, anticipating that I might need a medical procedure. As I did so, I marveled at how many amazing leaders we have within our church. I was focusing on the worship service, and leading worship on Sundays is a only portion of what we do as a church community, but it is an important part of what we do. It is where we gather together to reorient to God, to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and to listen for inspiration from Jesus. How fitting that we gather on the beach today to hear Jesus remind us to be salty. Do we have it easier, here beside the sea? We can hardly help but be salty around here. I want to start with that, which is where Jesus lands his somewhat meandering messa...
Read more

Remembering our saints and Saints

-
Image
I am grateful to have had a therapist to be my guide through some difficult times of life, as well as through discernment in early adulthood. One piece of wisdom my therapist shared with me early on was the blessing and curse of longevity. As we age more and more of our loved ones will die along the way. That realist perspective echos the refrain of Ecclesiastes, "all is vanity." It doesn't make losing a loved one easier, but it does provide some orientation for the journey. In addition, it has helped me to value this life as a precious gift.  I also value memories of those who have crossed over to join the "great cloud of witnesses", those loved ones I call saints who are gathered close to God. Intentionally remembering and honoring the saints, both those with a capital "S" whom we share with the wider church community, or those more personal lower case "s" saints has become more important to me longer I live, and the more loved ones I bury....
Read more