Asleep in the light

“Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexplained tears, it is well to pay close attention. They are not only telling you something about the secret of who you are, but more often than not, God is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come from and is summoning you to where you should go next.” – Frederick Beuchner

In what ways are we open to the world around us? How responsive are we to those whom we work with, we commute with or pass by on the street? What levels so we respond to the needs of those we come face to face with each day? In what manner do we allow ourselves to be consciously affected by the world as we interact with it? How about subconsciously; maybe a recent movie or book has started your wheels turning inside, has responded a re-evaluation or echoed a deep longing? There is an abundance of emotion interwoven in the fabric of our lives. It is a wondrous experience to allow ourselves to be moved to emotionally caring for the world around us, and humbly be affected by those who surround us every day. The contemplative things in our lives allow us to experience a more full and intentional embodiment of Christ and give us the ability to more readily listen to the whispering of the Holy Spirit. This place of grounding is that of the soul, the spirit, the mind – the connection points to our true understanding of who we are in light of Christ and why we are here. When we focus on the Living God as he speaks to us, our inner man (or woman) becomes the bearer of the intimate conversations of mystery and his revealing of Himself and his desires for our lives and our interactions with those around us. As a result, we are filled with praise and peace.

The Psalms are filled with responses to God in light of circumstances within life. The Psalmist was well in touch with events in his own life which responded praise and glory unto the Lord as well as cries for help and rescue. The verses we read are vivid exclamations of a heart in intimate communication with the Living God. Responding in the emotion and reality of our situations in life to God is a vibrant interaction which keeps us in authentic communion with the Father and sustains our hearts through our struggles. As we seek Him, our prayer becomes a continuous conversation in response to his constant interaction in our lives, our consistent experience of sin and the lost in our world and the message of his salvation that we carry around with us to share with those around us.

God has called us to be affected by Him and to be effective in showing compassion to others in response to Him. Everyday we interact with people who are sinking down in hopelessness and confusion. So many we already know are drowning in the need for Christ. Even among our “Christian” brothers and sisters, many are struggling in their pursuit of God. How often do we find tears in our eyes for the lost, let alone our fellow laborers in Christ? We may pray for our pastors, our children, our spouses, our friends and families; but do we pray for our bosses, the person at the coffee shop, our co-workers, the people on the train sitting next to us or our comrades we daily interact with? Jesus was moved with emotion by those he came into contact with. We may know the shortest verse in the bible is John 11:35, “Jesus wept,” because of its status of a two word verse. But think about the true implication of these two pivotal words; the Almighty God in human form, who knows all and is not surprised by anything, was so full of emotion that he wept at the death of Lazarus. Weeping is far beyond the regular masculine stifling of tears, watering eyes or the sniffling eye wiping of an emotional movie; the Lord of the Universe let Himself burst with emotional tears of sorrow and sobbing for the sake of loss. This is the emotional Savior who died for our sin, who sweated in anguish like drops of blood as he prayed, and wept for his friend who had died.

Christ responded in real ways to the human condition around Him; life in response to sin affecting those He loves. He didn’t smile and wave saying, “God bless you. Have a nice day. If you love me a little more, I’ll help you eventually.” – He spoke of a socially outcast Samaritan helping a beaten Jew on the roadside. He didn’t tell the disciples, “When you’ve gone through seminary, then you will know the ways to debate with or convince others to follow me.” – He sent them out in faith, calling them to focus on their salvation in Him and their faith in Him as the Son of God to empower them. The example of Jesus does not inspire us to respond as Jonah first did, running away from the call of God. His call touches our hearts, and encourages us in real ways which sustains us in our pursuit of Him. He knows that the men and women of this world are lost in darkness and that only His sacrifice on the cross could remedy their condition. The light He gave to those He has saved, has given them the power to extend Himself and his power to others. The power to listen and to empathize; the ability to pray and care for needs; the authority to share his word and be confident in his sovereign Lordship – He has called us to respond, to ache, to weep, to share with, to love, to comfort, to laugh with, to cry with, to exhort and to disciple those whom he places in our lives and our interactions.

As David did, we must know the heart of God; the emotional inspiration of responding in love and grace to his creation. As the hallelujahs from our lips echo in heaven in response to our own preservation and salvation, we must extend our hands and hearts to those around us who are lost, suffering and lonely. We must let his light be the beacon for those who are mired in darkness. We must wake to show that Christ is the only hope and future. Let us use the sustenance He has gives us to help restore those we are in community with. Let us respond to the world in a way which lets them hear the words of the Lord, “Come away from this messy, sinful world. Come be with me for eternity. Come to me, my love. I long for you to know the grace and glory of the Father. Bring me your worries and cares; I’ve cried, wept and died to care for you. I am the light of the world and whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Let us listen to God, especially in our emotions as they respond to his leading; that we may be filled with the light of the world, share his life with those around us and care for those who He puts in the communities we are in.