“Leap of Faith: Lost in Babylon“, by Rev. Angela Martin
Have you ever been lost? It is not a pleasant feeling when we find ourselves beyond the boundaries of what’s familiar. Fear of the unknown and not knowing our way back can send us into a panic. And yet, in her book, An Altar in the World, Barbara Brown Taylor says that being lost can be a good thing. She even goes as far as saying it can be a spiritual practice; that we might even consider intentionally getting lost by getting off the familiar paths we normally take because it awakens us to new possibilities and the adventure of getting back to the way that is familiar can be of value.
Have you ever felt spiritually lost? Stuck in the wilderness? Sometimes we lose our way spiritually. Life happens and we feel thrust into the wilderness. Sometimes it’s a matter of not paying attention; we lose focus and stop doing those things which keep us spiritually fit and on the disciple’s path like studying scripture or praying daily or coming to worship. It is never because God abandons us. Perhaps we should take Brown’s advice in those times. Maybe in those times of feeling spiritually lost, we can lean in toward God and ask that he awaken us to new possibilities and can grow us in the process. God is always calling us out of our lost-ness. And his promise to us as we return? We “will go out in joy and be led forth in peace”. (Isaiah 55:12)
~Angela Martin
The Word
Isaiah 55:6-12
Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.For you shall go out in joy,
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
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