Scripture is a funny thing. We all hear it differently,
depending on where we are at. When
I read the readings for today, this one spoke to me:
John 8:30-32 As He
was saying these things, many believed Him. Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you
continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth,
and the truth will make you free.’
The message in context seems to be about how Jesus’
crucifixion and resurrection will reveal the ultimate truth of his being the Son
of God. My interpretation takes it
further, where I hear a message of
faith and hope that things will be OK even as He leaves.
OK, so the obvious point of relevance here for us at St.
Francis is Rich’s upcoming departure. For me, several other departures of key
figures in my family’s life are happening at or around the same time, so
clearly this is why I hear this message as I do. I find myself asking this question: How do we find our way to that place of faith amidst
uncertainty?
An image from yoga keeps coming to mind. The pose Warrior II is pictured here.
This is one of my favorite poses, for the way it feels, and
the imagery it shares. It speaks
to the importance of balance. In
this pose, if we lean too far forward, our front leg takes all of the weight,
and if we lean too far back we overtax the back leg. Neither brings balance. I’ve heard this described as a metaphor for life: if we rush
into the future (lean too far forward) or stay stuck in the past (lean too far
backward), we can’t live in the present (balance). Yet holding this pose for a long time can be hard – muscles
ache! It is helpful to be balanced
the best we can so that we can endure the demands of holding the pose…and if we
are to be truly in the moment (in yoga terms) the ultimate goal is to find
“comfort in the discomfort” or in other words, to find peace while feeling pain.
Finding precious balance isn’t easy. It takes a lot of
practice. Some days are harder than
others, and continual readjustment is often necessary. The important thing to recognize is
that it CAN be done, even if it’s hard, even it isn’t as graceful as we’d want.
In yoga and in life, we can become
stronger and more peaceful as long as we have faith, hope, and perseverance.
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