Claire…ification – Making Ourselves Radically Available for God

In our post-General Conference days, this is a question that is arising in many circles. I think it’s safe to say that most people in our connection are not fully satisfied and happy right now. I will not try to offer suggestions on why that might be because it would take me out of the mode of making “I” statements, and I feel that it’s important for each of us to speak for ourselves, not attempting to speak on behalf of others.

For me, I am trying to stay centered in Christ and to have a heart of peace. I am reminding myself that I serve alongside brothers and sisters in Christ with a wide range of perspectives and experiences and convictions, and I want to maintain healthy relationships with all of them. Professionally, I will continue to do my job to the best of my ability and will serve as faithfully as I can.

For me personally, I am trying very hard to remain open to the ways that God wants to use me during this season of challenging times in our church. I’m trying to take time each morning in devotion to God, using the Upper Room Discipline as a starting point. It’s timely that the Companions in Christ group that gathers seasonally is getting started again for the season of Lent, and as God would have it, the section for our study is called “Responding to Our Call: The Work of Christ” and this week’s readings are about “Radical Availability”. We are reading stories in the Bible about how people made themselves radically available to a particular service for God. We are called to let go of everything to give ourselves to God who shakes us free of every other constraint so that we trust only in our Lord.

Oswald Chambers in his book, My Utmost for His Highest has written of the “gracious uncertainty” that “marks the spiritual life”:

“To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sign of sadness; it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. Immediately we abandon to God, and do the duty that lies nearest. [God] packs our life with surprises all the time.”

As we read stories of Abram and Sarai, Esther, Jesus, Jesus’ earliest disciples, and Lydia, we are encouraged to reflect on how these biblical characters followed the first call of committing all to God. We are then asked to meditate on the scripture passage related to the character that we feel we most relate to during this season.

I’ve been drawn to Esther. What that means, exactly, time will tell. I will be listening to God, discerning with the help of my Spiritual Director and my Companions in Christ friends. I invite you to join me in reading stories of the biblical characters mentioned above, and perhaps others who you feel drawn to. How are you being called to make yourself radically available in this season?

Peace y’all,