I begin a new season of discipleship and ministry, today – one that moves me into an activated state and out of the contemplative one where I have taken refuge for a very long time.
12 My foot stands on level ground;
in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.
And this final couplet of today’s psalm has me thinking about all the little steps I have had to take to arrive here. Steps out of what was, for all intents and purposes, very solid ground. Steps that took me away from all I had known and put me into new territories. New lands. New homes. New roads. New companions. I have been oriented-disoriented-and reoriented more times than I ever in my wildest dreams desired or thought I had the capacity to navigate faithfully and steadfastly.
Where was God in this new ground? This new space, place and time? Was I reading the compass right? Was this where I was to go? Be? Lord, Jesus. Abba Father, where are you?
Like so many times throughout the contemplative season in which I have been immersed, it was a simple phrase from scripture that triggered a pause, and a Holy Spirit moment. The words ‘solid ground’ almost made me laugh out loud. Solid ground? Hardly. The earth beneath my feet has not stopped moving, undulating, throwing me up, off, around over and over.
And yet, the reality that though I am in a foreign place once again, I am not, disoriented. I am at true north. I am where He has lead me. Where I am to be. And in that sense, I am on solid ground.
Not just a new season for me but new ground in every way. And I am here only because I have followed the still small voice that calls me to ministry. When I think of all the disruptions that have occurred over the past years that lead me here, I wonder. I wonder what God will do through me for whomever I meet in this new place – His place, His ground.
Just a piece of my story for His glory.
Praise Him. I promise, I will, Lord, God.
12 My foot stands on level ground;
in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.
Lectionary Readings: AM Psalm 26, 28; PM Psalm 36, 39 Deut. 4:15-24; 2 Cor. 1:12-22; Luke 15:1-10
TRINITY SEASONS 