Words of Fire
  • Home
  • About Margaret-Ann
  • Storytelling
  • Flames (Blog)
  • WORDshops
  • Resources
  • Contact

The Pursuit of Wholeness

3/12/2012

 
His response to my "thank you" tweet was brief:  "Looking forward to  pursuing wholeness together."  Yet these words begged the question: how do we  pursue-–look for–-wholeness?  And how do we do it together?  

I know that wholeness is a worthy goal, because Psalm 34:14 tells us to "seek  peace and pursue it."   The King James Version of Psalm 63:8 is more  intense: "My soul followeth hard after thee." We are called to move actively  towards God and towards Christ. Our faith is neither passive nor docile.  

  . . . May we pursue wholeness together.

Likewise, we are called to move towards each other.  Our God loves community,
relationships and fellowship. Jesus speaks countless times of His connection to  God and His connection to us. We are the "branches" (John 15:5) to His vine. We
are not disconnected. We are not alone. We have not been abandoned. 

  . . . May we pursue wholeness together.

 What we ignore is that we must pursue wholeness in community.  We live in a
broken and lonely and isolating world.  Too often, we fail to look past  superficial smiles to the bleeding and wounded hearts occupying the pew next to  us.   We do not pursue the redemptive power of our community for  ourselves or for others.  Our desire for others’ healing and restoration is as  superficial as the pasted smiles we wear on Sunday morning.  We are not, in the  words of the psalmist, "following hard" after God.  We conceal ourselves from  Him and from each other.  We have replaced Adam and Eve’s fig leaves with our   own emotional barriers, hiding our wounds from the God who could heal us.   

  . . . May we pursue wholeness together.

May we pursue wholeness together.  Yes!  May we, as one, be deliberate in our desire for, and our pursuit of,  the healing, restoration and redemption available through the risen Christ.   Yes!
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Ash Wednesday
    Celebration
    Community
    COVID 19
    Creativity
    Dating
    Death
    Easter
    Encouragement
    Faith
    Family
    Generosity
    Gratitude
    Healing
    Hope
    Hospitality
    Intimacy
    Joy
    Lent
    Palm Sunday
    Peace
    Prayers
    Psalms
    Purpose
    Racism
    Relationships
    Resurrection
    Stories
    Storytelling
    Transparency
    Trust
    Wholeness
    Work

    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    May 2020
    April 2020
    November 2016
    May 2014
    April 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.