Here I Am

 

1 Samuel 3:1-21 (CJB)

⁴ Adonai called, “Sh’mu’el!” and he answered, “Here I am.”…… ¹⁹ …… Adonai was with him, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.

Acts 2:37-47 (CJB)

³⁷ On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Kefa and the other emissaries, “Brothers, what should we do?” ³⁸ Kefa answered them, “Turn from sin, return to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Yeshua the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh! 

³⁷Hearing this, they were pierced to the heart, and they said……  “Colleagues, what should we do? ³⁸and Petros to them: “Change your minds and let each one of you be immersed by (in, on) the authority of the name of Iēsous Christos in order to be freed from all your misunderstandings.”  (Adapted from Mounce Greek Interlinear)

“Immersed” can also mean ‘submerged’. “Authority” can also mean ‘mandate’.

Luke 21:5-19 (CJB)

¹⁹ By standing firm you will save your lives.

¹⁹ In your habit of abiding you will win mastery over the very essence of your life. (Adapted from Mounce Greek Interlinear)

(Note: My adaptation from Mounce is derived from looking up the translation of specific Greek words. Any changes I’ve made are consistent with the meaning of the word as listed in Mounce, on Bible Gateway)

 

—Catching all of God’s words and not letting them fall to the ground..

—Pierced to the heart..

—Habit of abiding..

 

Today a friend on FB posted a photo of her profession in the Lindisfarne Community in 2013. I was moved to look up my profession photo, and also to look at the program from the retreat in 2017 when I was also appointed to a life of contemplation at my hermitage, The Waystead.

—I read that program over again, not letting a single word fall to the ground:

 

My sister, do you believe that you are truly called by God to the life of prayer, study, and contemplation?

I believe I am so called.

Do you now in the presence of the Community commit yourself to this trust and responsibility?

I do.

Will you be diligent in the reading and study of sacred scriptures, in meditation, mindfulness, and service, and in seeking such things as may make you a stronger and more able minister of the love and goodness of God?

I will.

Will you endeavor so to represent the Lindisfarne Community, Rule of Life, and Understandings to all who seek, that the reconciling love of God may be known and received?

I will.

Will you work toward the alleviation of the suffering of all sentient beings?

I will.

May God who has given you the will to do these things give you the grace and power to perform them.

Amen.

 

—I was pierced to the heart, and I felt my mind changing.

I looked back over the last year and a half of grief and weariness and I knew that something was shifting, and that I was being freed to return to understanding. None of that old misery had led me to despair. I discovered that the commitment I had made was very resistant to guilt. Even though I felt as if I had failed in some ways, reading those words over again lifted my heart and I realized that they were words of encouragement and sustenance.

 

—I kept my habit of abiding; I had not lost mastery over the essence of my life.

Even through all my mistakes and misunderstandings; worn out by weariness and worry, I had endured, and…

 

—Here I Am.