Meditations for Lent - #26
Earlier today I was thinking that a good summary title for today’s Lenten meditation might be “Jesus smiles”. The suggested Gospel lesson is John 4:43-54 which includes the story of Jesus healing the official’s son who was reported to be near death. Jesus pronounced that the son will live even though he did not go near the son. The story goes on to say that the fever of the son broke when Jesus said he would live. Jesus is reported to have said, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will never believe.”
Yesterday I attended a birthday party for a friend who turned 70. All of the adults at the part were there because they know that the woman celebrating her birthday is worth loving. I do not think any of them had the illusion that she was perfect although her grandchildren may not yet have figured out she is less than perfect. Perhaps they have not yet realized that it is not okay to be human. The wonderful parents seem to adore the children and I know that they have been eager to make sure that each of their children receive what the need without any suggestion that they need to be something other than what they are. If they continue on their current path they will not need to be healed as adults. While it is true that they will each have some body parts which may need attention at times, they are now spiritually whole. They do not need signs and wonders to convince them that they belong although they will, as they age, hear various definitions of worth and success. They parents and their grandmother as well as all the godparents or adopted aunts and uncles will continue to assure them that it is safe for them to accept the unconditional love and acceptance which is the birthright of all of life including us humans. They will continue to receive the message that the God of one’s understanding has assured them of eternal life; that as pure energy their essence is neither created nor destroyed. While they may struggle in the years to come to claim and reclaim their essential place and function in this life journey they will never require healing although they may require a reassurance that they are enough.
Many of those present at the birthday celebration were already aware that this life journey is only, at the most, two minute long. Whether this ends in this second or the next does not really matter. All we are required to do is to show up as we are to love and to honor our essential place in the intricate design of the universe (s). If we forget this fact we can heal each other; we can return ourselves to ourselves.
While those of us who are parents get attached to the ideal that our children should outlive us, they will stay as long as they stay. If they stay only one minute before going on to the next stage our job during that one minute is merely to love.
I just received a text telling me a young man who recently graduated from a treatment program for which I work as a volunteer died of a drug overdose this morning. Those of us who knew this man can be assured that we did our healing work of loving him unconditionally. We embraced him and assured him we were there no matter what. This did not keep the disease of addiction at bay for long but we did our part.
When we do our part of returning each other and ourselves to ourselves; when we perform spiritual healing by loving each other unconditionally Jesus smiles and reminds us that we did well. I am sure that Jesus also smiled with the man who died as he held out his arms to welcome him back to himself; to welcome him from the chains of doubts and lies.
Written April 1, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Earlier today I was thinking that a good summary title for today’s Lenten meditation might be “Jesus smiles”. The suggested Gospel lesson is John 4:43-54 which includes the story of Jesus healing the official’s son who was reported to be near death. Jesus pronounced that the son will live even though he did not go near the son. The story goes on to say that the fever of the son broke when Jesus said he would live. Jesus is reported to have said, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will never believe.”
Yesterday I attended a birthday party for a friend who turned 70. All of the adults at the part were there because they know that the woman celebrating her birthday is worth loving. I do not think any of them had the illusion that she was perfect although her grandchildren may not yet have figured out she is less than perfect. Perhaps they have not yet realized that it is not okay to be human. The wonderful parents seem to adore the children and I know that they have been eager to make sure that each of their children receive what the need without any suggestion that they need to be something other than what they are. If they continue on their current path they will not need to be healed as adults. While it is true that they will each have some body parts which may need attention at times, they are now spiritually whole. They do not need signs and wonders to convince them that they belong although they will, as they age, hear various definitions of worth and success. They parents and their grandmother as well as all the godparents or adopted aunts and uncles will continue to assure them that it is safe for them to accept the unconditional love and acceptance which is the birthright of all of life including us humans. They will continue to receive the message that the God of one’s understanding has assured them of eternal life; that as pure energy their essence is neither created nor destroyed. While they may struggle in the years to come to claim and reclaim their essential place and function in this life journey they will never require healing although they may require a reassurance that they are enough.
Many of those present at the birthday celebration were already aware that this life journey is only, at the most, two minute long. Whether this ends in this second or the next does not really matter. All we are required to do is to show up as we are to love and to honor our essential place in the intricate design of the universe (s). If we forget this fact we can heal each other; we can return ourselves to ourselves.
While those of us who are parents get attached to the ideal that our children should outlive us, they will stay as long as they stay. If they stay only one minute before going on to the next stage our job during that one minute is merely to love.
I just received a text telling me a young man who recently graduated from a treatment program for which I work as a volunteer died of a drug overdose this morning. Those of us who knew this man can be assured that we did our healing work of loving him unconditionally. We embraced him and assured him we were there no matter what. This did not keep the disease of addiction at bay for long but we did our part.
When we do our part of returning each other and ourselves to ourselves; when we perform spiritual healing by loving each other unconditionally Jesus smiles and reminds us that we did well. I am sure that Jesus also smiled with the man who died as he held out his arms to welcome him back to himself; to welcome him from the chains of doubts and lies.
Written April 1, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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