Virtual Chapel – Page 15 – Life in the Deep End

Virtual Chapel: Broken Things

October 18, 2019October 18, 2019Vona Wilson

We were sitting on the couch watching TV when a big crash sounded from the screened porch. We jumped up and ran to see; I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The beautiful hand-painted pottery plate I had so carefully carried home from Nicaragua lay shattered into a hundred pieces on the porch floor. The iron frame that it had been resting on was still securely hanging on the wall. A large snake had climbed all the way up the wall, pushed the plate off the frame and then wrapped himself around the iron curves; he was resting peacefully. I was stunned. Two things ran quickly through my mind:

Oh no! That plate reminded me of something I never want to forget
and now it’s shattered!

Oh my! This snake came here to remind me that I am forgetting very quickly…

We had to make a quick decision and I knew we couldn’t kill him. So we got the broom and helped him let go of the frame. We shuffled him off of our porch and back into the dark of the night. He was gone and I was left picking up the pieces of a fading dream I wasn’t ready to leave behind.

The plate was a hand painted piece of clay pottery from Nicaragua. It was of an iguana. The colors were beautiful and the expression of the culture and wildlife were vibrant and inspiring. I had imagined that if I could always see that plate, with its beautiful way of sharing the culture, I would never forget what God showed me during that first experience in Central America. Now my reminder was in hundreds of pieces. I picked it all up and placed it in a paper sack. One day…I will put all the pieces back together. I envisioned many ways this could be done but the right idea remained elusive.

Fast forward a few years later I was walking through the Main Street Festival as a quick way to kill time between Sunday morning worship and evening youth group. I stumbled upon a booth that caught my eye. There were crosses of all sizes and they seemed to be made from odd pieces of something. Intrigued; I stepped inside. The artist shared her story. Every cross was indeed made from broken things. Most were created from stained glass windows of churches that were being taken down. All of the crosses were inspired by the wisdom of I Corinthians 1:18:

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. – I Corinthians 1:18

I asked her if I could bring her my sack of shattered pieces, the pieces of Nicaragua.

Several months passed when the artist was back in town for another street festival. I went by her booth, and found the cross she had so thoughtfully created. The shattered plate, the snake’s intended destruction, and the beauty of the Nicaraguan artist who painted this piece: all were restored. That same summer I returned to Nicaragua with a team of high school students ready to experience God in another culture.

For several years I carried my sack of broken pottery with me. It made a few moves, was stored in barns, closets and corners along the way. Until the day came that those pieces could be formed into something beautiful. My first time in Central America opened my mind and spirit to things I had not known of God, or of myself. It inspired a journey of following the Spirit that has never stopped teaching and shaping me into the person God created me to be. I am grateful.

What pieces are in your sack of broken things? Be watchful. At just the right time your eyes or your heart will see an opening for restoration, wholeness and new life. You will know to lean in and see what God has to give you. However it comes, just let it be. Broken things being restored is a beautiful gift of the risen Christ and it often comes in surprising ways.

Broken Things by Julie Miller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY30HUwArWM

Prayer
Lord, please help us to lean in and embrace the ways you make all things new. Thank you for your grace. Amen.

The Narrow Door

October 11, 2019October 12, 2019Vona Wilson

The Narrow Door

What if the narrow door is not so much about WHO gets in or out but WHAT we let go of as we enter? Scripture paints a picture of holy space as being pure and safe and complete in love. Light is present and darkness has vanished; it is no more. Who doesn’t want to be in that space?

The “narrow door” Scripture reminds me of an experience with a group of students. We were on a youth overnight retreat, spending the night in a cave and exploring the next day. The place we slept was big and cavernous. Moisture dripped from the roof of the cave during the night. Sleep was fleeting and dreaming scarce. The tangible presence of excitement and fear set up with us as we settled in for the night. The next morning we embarked on our exploring. Moving through dark wide-open spaces and shining our flashlights to see the wonder of all that resides under the ground, we were mesmerized! Then we came upon some tunnels. And then we came upon a tiny, narrow passage – one we all had to move through.

Our guide let us know from the start: “you can get through this narrow place”. We weren’t all sure about that but we began – one by one – to attempt the passage. The smallest ones among us slipped through without much effort at all. Some of them were gymnasts whose bodies were already trained for challenging feats. Others were just small and limber; the fearless ones bounded to the front of the line.

As we waited for each one to pass through the tension grew. The bodies were bigger. Those with anxiety of tight spaces lingered toward the back of the line. I began to pray for each one, knowing we might be here a while. The last few students who entered this narrow passage had to let go of a LOT to pass through. We were all speaking words of encouragement and hope. We were praying underneath our breath. We were doing everything we could, but it was each person’s body that had to keep squishing through that narrow place. There may have been some tears. We all made it.

Jesus said the gate is narrow…

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
– Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew 7:13-14

I wonder if it is what we hold on to that makes finding our way through the narrow place so difficult? The less we carry, the freer we become. The more we let go of, the easier it is to embrace the faith that moves mountains. Letting go of resentment and bitterness and betrayal can feel like giving up – until you feel the freedom of not carrying that weight! Offering forgiveness so you can let go and move on is a powerful way to lessen your load. Shedding the lies of shame and guilt makes space in our spirits for hope and restoration. Releasing ourselves from the structures and relationships that shut us down rather than empowering us to fly is not easy. But stepping into that narrow place leads us to full life.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. – Galatians 5:1

Is it time to let go and squish on through the narrow way? Yes, the road is hard, AND there sure is a lot of freedom on the other side of grace! Can you release your grip on one thing that is holding you back today?

“Do one thing every day that scares you.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt

Stumbling Into Grace

September 25, 2019October 12, 2019Vona Wilson

“Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.”
Daniel 11:35

I used to think I had to get it all together before I gave it all up…to God. I thought I had to hold myself back in the shame of mistakes and failures, or as a sign of knowing I didn’t and couldn’t deserve more. How do we ever feel good about coming to God with our darkness? The perpetual punishment may have seemed like a way to show God how sorry I was for my errors. And perhaps even prevent me from repeating mistakes, although that approach never leads to grace.

There was a season of hiding where I convinced myself I could hide from God until I got “good enough” or just got everything under control. And there was a surrendering season when I realized God already knew me and I was only playing games with myself. It takes a lot of energy to try and steer the forgiveness of God! Something was missing and it seemed like this might be the dam. I let go and decided to just be real with the one who created me.

My thought process slowly started changing as I began to experience mercy in undeserved moments. I started finding words of hope in the darkest of places. I found Jesus waiting…in prayer, with tears…waiting and hoping I would look up and see the offering: the gift of mercy and grace. Because more is coming…

“I realize that falling isn’t graceful but I thank the Lord that falling is full of grace”
– Andrew Peterson

There is every indication in Scripture that our struggles are a pathway to new life – the life God created us to have. It is not a life without challenge; it is life lived from the Spirit with amazing freedom, power and love! When Jesus shows up in our mess, something new begins to happen. And it is always leading us to redemption, restoration and wholeness. Christ restores us.

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” – John 15:2

Peter was one of the disciples with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry. He was the disciple Jesus chose to first lead the church. A fisherman by trade, Peter was a hot-tempered, highly driven man with a passion for the mission. When Jesus encountered a challenge Peter was quick to draw his sword in defense. He often had to be told to stand down. Peter believed Jesus was the Messiah and he had confessed Jesus as Lord. He would do anything for him.

Still…in a moment of crisis and fear, Peter denied knowing Jesus in any way. He walked away in a moment of great need and denied the very person he desired so much to honor. He abandoned his own belief and gave fear his voice. It was a pretty big stumble, a failure of immense consequence. A moment he could never forget. His sorrow was so great! Maybe you know the feeling. Here is the story as Luke tells it: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+22%3A47-62&version=NIV

But that is not the whole story. Jesus knew Peter would have to be restored if he was going to fulfill the life he was created to live. Peter’s big stumbling, became the impetus for his discovery of his life’s mission. Even though he had both faith and knowledge of Jesus before he denied him, it is actually in his being restored after that denial when Peter truly experiences the mercy of God. Jesus held nothing against him.

Peter receives the grace of another chance and to receive what he never deserved but what he needed in order to really live: grace and restoration. Jesus offers him both without hesitation. And then the deeper adventure for Peter’s life begins.

Peter is restored and given a charge for the focus of his life. Read the story here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+21%3A1-17&version=NIV

Some of our stumbling will cause us great grief. There may be consequences we have to live through or losses we have to accept. But that is not where it stops. God walks through those dark valleys with us and Christ leads us to higher ground. We are restored in moments, across seasons and throughout our lives. This is the real journey walking with God.

When you find yourself stumbling, look up! Grace is about to catch you and as you are able to receive it, life will be forever changed. Anticipate the more that is coming…

Prayer
Holy God, please help us to remember that our falls are never where you leave us. The arms of Christ are always reaching out to catch us in your grace. We need you, Lord. When we stumble today, please catch us. And when we fall hard, thank you for finding a way to restore us to the true life we are created to live. Help us to keep stumbling and falling straight into you. Let it be. Amen.

Andrew Peterson: The Chasing Song