Blessed by the Mud…

Jesus brings Blessings to us even when we are in the middle of the mud and the muck. In fact, He uses the mud of our low points to raise us higher! We heard it proclaimed on the Fourth Sunday of Lent in the Gospel story of the blind man. Even though he had been born blind, the disciples believed the man's blindness was the result of sin. Jesus set the record straight. Bad things don't always happen by fault of our sin.

Jesus said, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—. So he went and washed, and came back able to see. John 9:3-7

Through Jesus, the Light of the world, we can see through the mud in our lives and know we are not alone. We will be saved and redeemed when we keep our eyes on Him.

At times, the Earth seems to be drowning in mud. The news breathes violence and incivility, while many people bleed apathy and entitlement. Unfortunately, we have become desensitized to this truth. If we aren't in the middle of the battle, we allow the stories of aggression, abuse, heartache, discrimination, and imbalance to pass us by without affecting us. We may even think the "losers" deserve what they got because of their sinful lifestyle.

Saint Augustine explains that the blind man represents all humanity. Because of sin, the human heart lost its clarity of vision. We were created to see God, to know Him, and to live in His light. Yet sin darkened our sight. Augustine said the clay symbolizes the mystery of the Incarnation, God joining Himself to our human nature. Through Christ’s humanity, our spiritual blindness begins to heal.

From Day One, Lent for me this year has been an extraordinary period of deep dependence on God. I've had to stretch my Faith and Trust muscles. In this walk, He is growing me into a better disciple, drawing me closer to Him, and reshaping me from the inside out to more closely be the woman He created me to be.

I have found myself up to my eyeballs in the mud with yet another unexpected life transition that is throwing me lots of curveballs. On Ash Wednesday, I was told the owner of my rental home is selling it, and I would have to vacate in 45 days. This news landed in my lap during one of the busiest periods of my life. I was a bit stunned, realizing I would have to squeeze into my already-full calendar, packing everything I own, finding a new place to live, and moving everything out. Many days were already blocked-out for book presentations, planning and leading Parish Lenten Missions, plus a 10-day trip to help my son's family. I was unable to see clearly how I would navigate the way ahead.

Because of the suddenness and the timing of it all, this past month has felt a bit like one of those twisting, turning fair rides where you lose perspective of which direction you are going. Which way is up? Which way is down? Am I going forward or backward? Have you ever felt that way?

It feels a bit like a blindness of sorts. I had to jump in, not knowing when or where I would land, but hoping I would land on my feet.

Although this isn't the first time I've been in this sort of "I feel so rushed and a bit blindsided by some shocking, life-altering event, but I'm gonna take a deep dive into conversation with the Lord; Listen, Listen, and Listen some more; Reaffirm my Faith in His loving guidance and care; Hold my breath; and take a huge leap of Faith trusting God will not let me fall" situation, it still takes a lot of 'letting go of my will' gumption and obedience to God's will. Once again, I find myself discerning: What really matters in my life? Where is God leading me? What is His plan for me in this? Once again, I must empty my closets, cabinets, and corners, along with my personal preferences, and bid farewell to my comfort zone. Then, I free-fall with childlike Faith and open myself to be filled with His Spirit and Blessings.

My eyes are still covered in mud regarding the long-term picture, but with the Light of His Love, I can see that He is guiding me. Almost instantly, extraordinary, unanticipated Blessings came into focus. This Lent feels like my 40-day exodus from what was to what will be. Beginning in Holy Week, I will set out on an exciting journey far from my home to a location that is unfamiliar and unexplored by me. I will dwell in a new environment, on a new schedule, in a new area of the U.S. My time will be filled with rekindling relationships and refocusing on family. I will have busy times with my grandchildren, plus breathing room to wander, explore, rest, surrender, believe, trust, celebrate, and dwell in joyful hope of what my future holds after this hiatus from my familiar schedule and routine.

As I said, this has been an extraordinary Lent for me! The Lord is showing me a new way to see. I have prayed for a more charitable heart and am Blessed by this opportunity to give of myself. I have prayed for a deeper sense of true priorities in my life and am Blessed by this opportunity to live more simply. I have prayed for release from false attachments and am Blessed by this opportunity to step away and see more clearly. I am being molded into newness of life with new eyes! Even though I am often filled with fear, I live in complete freedom! Isn't that what Faith is at its core? Believing in what is unseen and seeing what is possible in the unknown?

But we have to want His healing and actively seek His grace and mercy to be made well. Look at today's Gospel Reading of The Cure on the Sabbath: John 5:1-16. Jesus saw the man who had been ill for 38 years and had never given up hope that he, too, could be healed. Every day, he watched others be made well by the healing waters that he could not reach on his own. But he desired it, believed it, hoped for it, and trusted in it. Jesus knew this, so He asked, "Do you want to be well?" The man spoke to Jesus, telling Him his worries, and immediately the man became well. The Healing Water (Jesus) came to the man.

So when the mud is in our eyes, we have to want to see.

We have to want to be made well.

We have to ask the Lord to help us when we feel helpless. We have to call out to Jesus, the Light of the World, so that He will teach us to see through the mud in our lives. We have to believe that He will hear and respond, even if it takes 38 years or more. We are not alone. We will be saved and redeemed when we keep our eyes on Him. He loves us beyond our understanding of love, and He wants us to be well.

When we allow God to take the lead, our lives proclaim a living testimony of God's abiding Love offered to all. Let's lean in and give our best to these last two weeks of Lent!

Do you still believe God will save you?

He has. He does. He will.

Always.

Because you are His.

Lean into Lent