The directive to "Get
changed" has always had a sense of finality to me. When I discovered over
and over that the change I expected had not occurred, I felt a like a failure.
Embracing Change
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to model how a relational study is done and provide questions relating text to the FAW theme for individual or group use. |
The directive to "Get
changed" has always had a sense of finality to me. When I discovered over
and over that the change I expected had not occurred, I felt a like a failure.
The idea of life being a journey has helped. A new book, Christian Life Patterns, that came across my desk recently expresses it this way. "Adulthood takes us by surprise... our images were of "settling down" as "grownups", of being -- somehow finished products. But the experience of adulthood is different. Our sense of stability is often put in question by an awareness of a need for change!" If this is true, and in my experience it is, how do we embrace the changes life presents or those we need to make?
The gospel of Luke, our guidebook for this year, is filled with stories of people whose lives were changed by Jesus. The gospel writer often offers both a male and female example for our exploration. Here are two familiar stories.
The Man -- Luke 19: 1-10
Imagine crowds so big that a small person had to climb a tree! How must Zacchaeus have felt when Jesus called him down and invited himself for dinner? His response to Jesus, offering to give half his wealth to the poor, is a clear example of getting changed. What had he done?
Even though it was risky and a little ridiculous, he placed himself in the presence of Jesus and then accepted Jesus into his house for dinner. Offering his goods to the poor was also risky. What would his social standing be like? We can see from the story that the crowd didn't approve of Zacchaeus or Jesus. Why would Jesus have called him a son of Abraham?
The Woman -- Luke 13:10-20
This woman, rejected all her life because of her infirmity (Leviticus 21:16-23), dares to come to church. She knew Jesus would be there. It was his custom.
She also stepped out of the women's place in the synagogue and risked more disapproval by the church leaders. Jesus did his usual thing, flaunted the Sabbath laws, touched the untouchable and healed the least likely person. He also calls her a daughter of Abraham! What did she and Zacchaeus have in common besides their unworthiness in the churches' eyes?
Connecting And Reflecting
I see that both the women and Zacchaeus were willing to risk, to step out in faith, to embrace change just as Abraham and Sarah did. What else do you see in these stories that connect with your life and experiences?
Imagine what their lives might have been like after one year and how their congregations might be different. Explore your reactions to the risk of ridicule and life style change. Reflect on your feelings about Jesus and his constantly going against the "righteous people". Share your responses with your group or in your journal.
Jesus uses the woman's healing to tell two parables of the kingdom (vs. 18-21). Note the male and female images. Could it be that one brave step toward change can multiply in the kingdom? How do you feel about the anonymity of leaven? Write or draw your images of these parables as they relate to these stories.
Finally, ask yourself how you relate to change in others? Clearly the women and Zacchaeus needed a supportive community. Perhaps this is why Jesus welcomed them as son and daughter of Abraham into the family of Israel! Perhaps our part, as leaven, is to support change in others.
This is going on in my small group now. Older women who have met together for 40 years are experiencing many life style changes and we are discovering the need to support each other in prayer, encouragement and listening without giving advice. This is the atmosphere I need to embrace change.
Where do you find support? Is your congregation this kind of place? Sometimes people are asked to be a discernment group for someone struggling with a new call. Some folk seek a spiritual director. Is this a type of leaven? Where will you go to meet Jesus to get changed?
References:
Nancy Boyle is a workshop leader, teacher and Christian Education Consultant living in Columbia SC.