December 15

Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, who will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. God will come and save you.” – from Isaiah 35:1-10

Rev. Melanie Oommen, Minister for Committee on Ministry Development and Leadership

“In order to rise from its own ashes a phoenix first must burn.” – from Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

 

A maddening paradox of this life is that it is hard to become stronger or wiser when things are easy.

I wish that weren’t true.  I wish that comfort could build muscle and bone, that the burdensomeness of wearying weight wasn’t necessary to know the truth of sturdy flesh.

The reason for this divine design?

I have no idea.

But whether we like it or not, fear is surely a sign that the realm of God is near and whatever must be faced can make us more capable of meeting the next challenge. And the next. The call to “be strong, do not fear!” is the reminder to bear our weight, not because words will sturdy the tendons in our hands or re-knit the ligaments in our feeble knees.

But we have come to know that sinew companioning sinew will strengthen and stretch the joints that connect and hold us together.  Fear won’t be abolished until the world is righteous, and fear draws us to the flame that will burn and make us rise.

 

Prayer

Courageous heart of all that is, Source of All Strength,
like the One for whom we wait grew in a womb,
by your miracle of love, we, too, are fearfully and wonderfully made:
from ashes we come, to ash we return, and in between may we ignite. Amen.