Meditation: August 19, 2007

"Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you. But rather division. From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three." Luke 12:51-52     Reflection:

Peace is a good thing, right? “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” I love singing that song.

So it’s initially startling to hear Jesus announce he’s here to create division, not peace. Conflict, not agreement. Dissonance, not harmony. I wonder if I’m ready to follow his lead.

Then I reflect on my own spiritual path and those of others with whom I’ve worked. It’s a misconception that becoming Christ-like will make life more pleasant, more agreeable, more peaceful. Becoming attuned to what God would have us do with our lives can be disruptive to say the least.

I look at my own relatively recent conversion to stewardship of the Earth’s resources. Like many, I’m alarmed about the well-documented effects of global warming. I understand and accept that this is a profoundly moral issue. Am I going to stand by while God’s creation is being destroyed—by those of us charged with taking care of it?

This change of heart has prompted me to look at virtually everything in my life in a new light. How can I escape bringing home from the store all these plastic bottles and bags? Can I stop this flood of junk mail? Can I justify living in this big old house? What about our travel plans? As someone who has calculated her carbon footprint, I know how much of a negative contribution jet exhaust makes to the atmosphere.

My peaceful, serene life has been upended by a new sense of responsibility to live more simply. No doubt I’m in the midst of a spiritual crisis that promises division, conflict, and dissonance. I feel the presence of God in a distinctly uncomfortable way.

        Prayer:

Relentless God, guide and support us while holding us accountable to our obligation to care for one another and for the Earth. Amen 

        Question of
the Week: In what area of my life is God introducing conflict, prompting me to look critically at cherished beliefs and established ways of doing things?         Meditation written by Diane Glass of the St. John's Writing Team.