This is sacred ground

It is my purpose to state what has become very obvious to me: we can use suffering to see God in ways our culture not only does not teach but will tend to do all in its considerable power to question and cast doubt upon.

We are not alone in this endeavor, howeveras God has every intention of using everything in our lives to attract, teach, and grow us into powerful human beings, beings capable, for instance, of realizing what is meant by God’s kingdom and working with God to bring that kingdom, here, now. As Jesus announced, “The kingdom of heaven is upon you” (Matthew 4:17).

This is an ongoing reality. It is one we are meant to experience. It is one we are expected and empowered to take part in. We’re just not taught how.

Suffering has an advantage over the other things in our lives that God makes use of to show us how. Suffering, by its nature, leaves us raw, wounded and hurting. It carves deep holes in us, holes God seeks to fill with himself. Moreover, suffering pushes us right up against the Cross of Christ. This is immensely sacred and potent ground. We must spend a great deal of time here.

You will find what I have found…

• God is HERE, already moving, mixing, prevalent and entirely relevant.

• God, as Richard Rohr teaches so well, is moving this world he created somewhere good. We are invited, expected, and empowered to join him.

• God intends to make use of the very thing that many use to turn away, to scoff, to insist on his absence — suffering — to reconcile the world to himself.

Welcome to Juniper Pact.

Reflection

Have you used your suffering to sit down with God, pondering it in his presence, nurturing an open mind and heart? If not, why not?

Prayer

Dear God, you are HERE. May I ease my being into yours, as I become accustomed to this sacred ground, here beneath the Juniper. Open every cell of my being. May I put my questions down here. May I put my sorrows down here. May I put my anger, my angst, my wounds down. Teach me to watch, to wait, to welcome.