Listening
Along the Pilgrims’ Way
by
Donald Fishburne
At a time of expectation before the Passover, some Greeks
wished to see Jesus, so Philip and Andrew took these pilgrim seekers to him. As
Jesus prayed, a voice from heaven shared God’s glory. Then the crowd heard
Jesus say, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to
myself.” Jesus draws all people to himself— for our healing and salvation. But
not without struggle. This would cost Jesus his life.
In the year since Ash Wednesday 2020 we’ve been on a
journey. I would say a spiritual pilgrimage, deeper into the heart of God. We
did not ask for the suffering and discord that began last year around the
globe. But God has been with us all along the way. Perhaps this has been for
you, as for me, a lean time of loss and grief, an extended wilderness time. For
the longest time we have not been able to gather together around our Lord’s
table. But we heard our Lord’s voice, and we listened. It’s never too late to
listen.
The Good News for me as we listen in this transformative
pilgrim journey is that my prayer life and spiritual life have been broadened
and deepened. My wife Sarah says my countenance and spiritual demeanor have
changed. I’m more appreciative of the profound faith passed on to me by family,
friends, mentors, and by members of the generations before. My ancestors,
including literal Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower 400 years ago, were not
perfect, nor am I, and now I have to reckon with that. At their worst, some
were oppressors of one sort or another. At their best, they were pilgrims
walking and sharing the way of faith.
In
our day, we choose to take this journey with Jesus, who is guiding us toward
Holy Week on a particular storm-tossed pilgrimage. All of us walk alongside
Jesus, to mourn, to hope, and, through our faithfulness and our willingness to
listen deeply to what this journey is telling us, to be lifted into his resurrected
life.
This is the perfect season to invite others to journey
with us through Lent toward Easter, as Jesus draws us to the cross and into
eternal life and love. All we need to do is begin, right where we are.
Jesus hears and
knows our needs and our struggles. Our joys and sorrows. Our fears, our
yearnings, our hopes. Jesus desires to create in us clean hearts, loving us
into the reign of God, overflowing with peace and joy.
Thank you, Jesus.
Living
Well Through Lent 2021
Copyright
©2021 Scott Stoner.
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rights reserved.
Are you finding this Lenten Devotional Series helpful?
Please COMMENT to allow me to evaluate my reactions to my blog.
Should I continue this blog I have felt to re-establish or should I discontinue?
I have already decided to continue through the Month of May 2020
to follow the Lenten Season.
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