A Word From Stan
The Paschal Mystery - Part 3
May 18, 2007
Letting go of what we once had (or even presently have) in order to receive what God is giving to us now...it's a nice idea. It sounds right. How we do it, though, is the million dollar question. How do we know when to let go? How do we know when a season of our life is ending? What about persistence, diligence and fidelity? Isn't it possible that in the name of "rebirth" I could actually be quitting on something too soon, using the Paschal Mystery as a spiritual-sounding excuse for sheer laziness or lack of commitment? The answer to that last question is yes, it is possible.
The reality is, any message I share conveys spiritual truth in a general sense and, therefore, has to be specifically appropriated to each recipient. Obviously, every life is different, every situation is distinct. While there are some who need to hang on and keep fighting, sitting right beside them are those who need to let go and surrender. How do we know the difference?
Please know, this question and the questions preceding it are not lost on me as I teach our congregation each Sunday. I don't believe for a moment that my musings are the ultimate cure-all or the proverbial silver bullet. Ultimately, in every series I share I know I am only broaching a subject, at best scratching the surface to whet your interest. My Sunday morning verbal offerings can't possibly answer all the questions or settle all our issues. But what these messages, like the Paschal Mystery, the Dark Night of the Soul, God at War, etc., can do is pique your interest, bringing to your awareness idea that are helpful and even critical to our spiritual well-being.
So, if you leave some Sunday saying, "OK, that was moving, but what do I do with it?" don't despair. That's what we all should be doing every time we leave our time of worship together. Our hope centers in the promise of Jesus that "the Holy Spirit will come along side us as we go to lead us and guide us into all truth." In other words, to take the eternal, general, and abstract principles of life and make them work for me today.
Pastor Stan