Glory, On the Rocks
Ask the church staff, others who know me, or anyone who pays much attention in worship, and they’ll tell you, “Mike likes rocks!” I love the way the Bible uses the imagery of rocks and stones. The Israelites piling up rocks to signify a place where God acted to save; God as our rock and refuge; Christ saying of Peter’s confession ‘on this rock I will build my church’; Paul’s image of the church as a house constructed of living stones with Christ as the cornerstone.
Last week I was on silent retreat at Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The coast there is, of course, rocky! For most of the weeks, a Nor’easter pounded the ancient, natural bulwark with wind, rain, and crashing waves – but the boulders stood firm and weathered the storm majestically.
On the last day, by which time the weather had cleared and the sun was shining gloriously, I walked out on the rocks to the ocean. During the seven days of silence, Jesus and I had spent a lot of time together “talking,” and we were continuing a great conversation (Ignatius refers to this as “colloquy” with Christ). As I paused and looked out across the craggy landscape, the Lord reminded me of when he said to the Pharisees “If these [my disciples] were silent, the stones would shout out!”, and “From these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.” I felt a sudden sense of community with the landscape, as if the rocks were gathered around me in a common experience of God’s glory. We rejoiced together that the storm was over, and we stood in shared reflection of the sun’s warm brilliance. As I listened to the waves breaking over the reef and splashing intermittently against smiling rock faces, I realize that this sound was not simply traveling from the water to my ears. Every rock that lay between me and the ocean was reflecting this sound. For a moment, nearly a minute, I was aware of the rocks singing together to the Love who created them. The whole earth reverberated with praise. Jesus winked at me, “Hear that?”
Simply by being what God created them to be, the rocks were giving glory to God. The light and sound of the Creator’s love were beautifully reflected in every crack, cleft, and cranny. Lord, may I live a life so true.
Beautiful! I have been to Gloucester (Good Harbor), so while reading this the picture is vivid in my mind.
Beautiful meditation! What a good springboard to begin writing my palm sunday sermon. Thanks!
I always enjoy your blogs. Thanks for sending them. Messages from GPC make me feel at home and closer to the LOrd.
Jack
Just an interesting thought. You mentioned each crack in the rock. If the crack is there, God wanted it there and undoubtedly put it there for a reason. It makes me wonder about the purpose of each of my cracks. (I’m sure I have more cracks than I’m aware of.) Is there a reason for all of my flaws? I’m sure there is, but what is the reason? Why am I such a flawed being? Why are each of us such flawed beings? My cracks keep me from God, but were created by him. Maybe it’s the realization of the cracks, and the battle against them that brings me closer? Do we each have different cracks, therefore, because God wants us to all wrestle with different sinful ways? Who benefits from the wrestling, myself or my brother? Just an interesting group of thoughts for Lenten reflection.
One more thing, does that make Jesus the greatest Spackle ever?!?
Oh my. Communing with Christ on New England rocks. Familiar and blessed. I collect heart-shaped rocks from such places ~ valentines from God…….I could go on but I promised a famous scholar I would proofread for him this morning………..
I feel the aliveness…the vitality of the moment! And it brings back memories of Iona for me. So glad you were so present to it all: GPC is richly blessed because you are!
Regarding Corey’s comment about cracks — I’m just wondering what you are referring to when you metaphor them. If they are the flaws of our humanity that keep us from being perfect, I’m not sure they are created by God. Isn’t this again the issue of free will? And, if our cracks are our flaws/sins, then I thank heaven that we don’t have all the same kind because then I think our opportunity for civilization or community would be doomed. I like to think that our various flaws balance the human race. As for Jesus being the best Spackle — that’s a superb metaphor! I really enjoy your thoughts — thanks for sharing, Corey.
I don’t know what the answer is in regards to Lori’s comment. Did God create our flaws? We undoubtedly have a baseline sinful nature, but do our flaws grow out of that sinful nature like weeds. Things that can be identified and plucked out and hopefully replaced with plants that bring good fruit? I always think of choice being both our greatest grace from God as well as our biggest burden. Each time we sin, we CHOOSE to sin. However, when we welcome God into our lives, we CHOOSE, to welcome Him. God doesn’t need any big show or great public display. He knows that simply our act of choosing Him, even if no one else knows, is all that matters. Hopefully, if we do choose Him, we will continue with other choices that reflect a Christian lifestyle. “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
So I don’t know, do we form our cracks through poor choices based on that wonderful/terrible thing called free will, or does God create our cracks for some long reaching, mysterious way as He loves to do?
I love asking questions that have no answers, because just like a journey, it’s not really the destination so much as it is the walk.
I know that choosing God is something that comes about through faith, and faith alone. There is no theorem with which I can derive God! Man will never prove the existence of God, it is impossible in that it ruins the idea of faith. Within the constant of that unknown lies the beauty of faith.
With Holy Week and Easter fast approaching, I am left awestruck yet again at the ultimate price that Jesus paid for us all, so that all our sins–past, present, and future–are forgiven and it is then faith and faith alone that can ensure eternal life.
Better yet, it is grace and grace alone (which we receive by faith) that assures us of eternal life. Salvation by grace through faith. The salvation is offered. Having faith is the way we live into that salvation, the way we appropriate and embody that grace.
The nice thing about cracks in the rocks (however they get there) is that good soil can settle into them. Then when the seeds of the kingdom fall into the good soil, and God sends the rain, something new can spring into life!
Mike, I love the idea of soil filling my cracks and growing something beautiful out of what others may see as a deficit. Reminds of how we can all be transformed into something precious in God’s eyes. And, Corey, I love questions with now answers, too. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Hebrews 11:1 — all about faith. See you both tomorrow!
On my vacation yo Myrtle Beach from March 20th- 27th, I spent many early mornings on the beach by myself. What a perfect place to listen to GOD. I had, and still have many issues in my life that I am dealing with, and I needed this personal time to just stand back and listen……..to everything that was going on around me.
The beach is the perfect place to relax, be quiet, and listen.
You are able to hear SO much.
The lapping of the waves, and the constant changing of the sands tell me that God is constantly moving things on.
One morning I came upon a backwash up the beach a few hundred yards, and I realized how much more was going on in this particular spot of the beach. More shells were washing in and there was more sea life contained in this small but active area. And then I realized that I was supposed to be there at that time to witness what God was performing. This could be a glory on the rocks, or maybe just a glory on the beach. At any rate, it was a glory.