Twenty-five years ago I faced what theologians call a crisis of faith. I suppose all of us go through something like this at one time or another. It was awful; I felt like everything I believed in was being shaken to its core.
But there it is, friends. The writer of Hebrews tells us that after everything is shaken, what cannot be shaken will remain. And of course, that’s what was left over after my dark night of the soul. My faith found a new birth of freedom in leaving behind the torturous legalism of “religion” and a new dawn of belief was ushered in, based on a graceful freedom in Christ. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever encountered.
I described the lessons of this profoundly difficult period of my life in a post written a few years ago. I won’t repeat myself here except to say that a faith that is shaken can come through those tremors made fresh. It reminds me a bit of a little foal who is learning to stand on brand new feet…like him I learned to take wobbly, but determined steps in a new direction.
Not one good thing I’ve been given can compare to the peace that trusting in Christ’s love for me brought to my soul – and one of the steps to that trust was the gift of these words, “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” *
The knowledge that I am known by the One who created me is both humbling (because I know just who I am) and joyful (because I know – in very small part – just who He is). Knowing I am known is a source of comfort that truly can’t be described…it’s experiential, based on the trust each one of us has to consciously choose to give into.
We’re headed into summer…for some of us that means a schedule change; for many of us our work continues in much the same way as it does year round. Whatever category you find yourself in – as May winds down and the glorious summer months arrive – I invite you to use the time ahead to do deliberate soul work…read substantive books by people like Frankl, Lewis, and Chesterton. Listen to (and sing!) the old, old hymns…the ones that have theology packed tight into every verse. Pick a creative outlet…painting, drawing, building – whatever interests you and make it a goal to have something to show for it when September shows up and the breezes begin to have blessed cool currents tucked in around the edges.
As you do this, I hope that the light and wisdom of Christ – which has run through everything from the very beginning – will shine out clearly. Let it come – hopefully, and gracefully – into whatever sadness or joy, weariness or strength you may be experiencing right now.
Christ, the Logos, the beautiful Beginning and End is never out of reach, always within grasp, ever working in the wide world outside, as well as in the smaller, more personal world that begins in the real estate of our souls. These places in the soul are sometimes quiet, sometimes stormy, but never unfamiliar territory to Him in whom we live and move and have our being.
He is ours for the taking, friends; just as we are His for the giving. The words below (at least partially) are attributed to St. Patrick. They are lovely and strong…and resonate powerfully:
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me and before me.
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in hearts of all who know me.
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger,
Christ in quiet and in roar.
Power to guide me, might to hold me,
Wisdom teach me, watching o’er me.
Ear to hear me, hand to guard me,
Love to conquer every fear.**
Let it be so.
*1 John 3
**Christ Be With Me: Prayer of St. Patrick; Emma Townend, Joseph Townend and Stuart Townend Copyright © 2018 Townend Songs