Courtesy of Aaron Burden for Unsplash.
Here it is. Another year. What am I prepared for? What shall I resolve to change, or maybe a better question is what shall I become?
I spent December contemplating with ancestors of faith, Moses and Mary. They both experienced encounters with the Divine. And they both said the same thing,“Here I am.” I can only imagine their reluctance as Moses turned aside to see the strange sight of a bush not burning up and Mary wondered what was waiting behind the greeting she heard. Neither knew what was to come but both agreed to become more. Both gave the best of themselves, amid their own struggle, to a world that was struggling too.
I spent time with Moses and Mary because I also was feeling reluctant. I was being drawn into one of those negative spirals. My negativity serves no one, least of all myself. And it leads me to argue as Moses did to send someone else to do the work. Rather than “Here I am,” I resist with “Who am I that I should…? or “How can this be?” But Moses wasn’t chosen because he was prepared. He was chosen because he noticed. How many other shepherds walked past that burning bush and were too preoccupied to notice there was something special about it? How many young women did Gabriel invite to become more of themselves for love of the world before Mary said yes? Before either one took another step, they were both assured they would not walk alone. Love was with them and would lead them.
“I will be with you,” God said to Moses when he was called to deliver the people from their oppression. Before asking her to deliver love into the world, Gabriel assured Mary, “the Lord is with you!” And so it is with us. Before saying “yes,” before knowing what is to come, knowing we are not alone is a great promise.
Maybe my best intention for the year to come is to greet each day with “Here I am” and see what I notice. I may (likely!) still argue along the way and struggle with saying yes. Bu
t with grace and led by love, I’ll find courage to hear the struggle of the world, to walk alongside, and give the best of myself to a world that is struggling too. I don’t know what to expect, but I am willing to become more. I wonder what your intention might be?
