The reflection of the building across the waterway from me caught my attention this morning. The night was still very dark. With time, I knew the dawn would come. As the reflections gently moved on the outgoing tidewater, I could hear the gentle reminders of the reflections I aspire to offer. I believe my calling to live includes kindness and caring. I am hopeful that in bringing these to life, I will be compassionate and empathetic. As I interact with others, I believe every relationship begins with respect and unconditional acceptance. With the reflections on the water, my lessons for today were heard in the silence.
As much as I try, I will not be perfect. The story told is never grounded in perfection. Paul’s reminder is direct, yet the holistic nature of it is often lost. “Make sure you stay alert to these qualities of gentle kindness and ruthless severity that exist side by side in God – ruthless with the deadwood, gentle with the grafted shoot. But don’t presume on this gentleness. The moment you become deadwood, you’re out of there.” (Romans 11.22). Deadwood is still and lifeless. The grafted shoot is alive, engaged, and growing.
Engagement and growth come from being in life’s arena. There is no substitution for being in the mix, putting everything on the line for the just causes of kindness, care, and community. One will likely be hurt. One will struggle, wrestling through the dark nights of the soul. It will, at times, feel like a mortal battle with the odds against us. Yet, it is in the arena that we live, grow, and embrace the opportunity to be a Divine reflection.
In our imperfections, others will see glimpses of Divinity and her grace. We all stand before her equal. Embracing the opportunity to represent her in life is an invitation to experience Divinity’s heart and soul. We will see as we have never seen before. We will live as we have never lived before. In reflecting, we will discover and experience Divinity with our hearts, minds, and souls.
