Lauren Winner’s book Still: Notes on a Mid-Life Crisis has been a helpful book for me at various points in my Christian walk. The rawness of her words, while challenging at times, calls each reader to press into God a little bit more. While I do not consider myself to be going through a mid-life faith crisis as Winner was in this book, I do believe that her words are helpful for the church at large. They are especially helpful to us a we continue to journey through Lent.
Therefore, I commend this book to you for in it you will find that Winner takes the reader on a journey from despair to hope; from suffering to peace. In that way, every Christian, regardless of their level of faith, will find her words speaking to your very soul—pressing in on a place that you may not have felt that God could touch or know about.
She ends one of her chapters with these words:
"The story ends with Luke’s telling us that Jesus often withdrew to a lonely place to pray. A little like escaping to the quiet of a museum, I think. What can it mean for a place to be lonely? A place lonely like Jesus? Lonely like me? Maybe I can make my loneliness into an invitation—to Jesus—that he might withdraw with me and pray."
Even moments, or seasons, where despair seems to live and flourish in us can become opportunities to invite God to dwell closely with us. Invitations to extend to God when we need God to abide closely. . . deeply. . . personally. I don’t know many Christians who actively admit to themselves or each other that they are lonely or suffering, but we do not have to. Notice how Lauren’s words associate Jesus with us. Notice how it is not we who come to Jesus in desperation but as we read those words it feels like Jesus is taking us by the hand.
He is walking with us toward a sacred space where we can pray—together. He will pray for us in John’s gospel But as I reflect longer on Lauren’s words they indicate to me that in our moment of suffering and pain, Jesus will pray with us. His hand holding ours. His voice calling out to God in heaven to dwell with us. His words calling the Holy Spirit down to care for both our soul and our body.
This is a wonderfully needed bit of good news in Lent. This can be the time when the church feels itself separated or isolated from each other. But as we dwell with Lauren’s words, we learn that Jesus is close at hand. He is identifying with our suffering because he too suffered in a similar way.
I wonder how Lauren’s words might speak to the pain that you feel today? How might her words remind you that Jesus is close at hand when you need him the most?
Blessings
Rev. Derek
No comments:
Post a Comment