Monthly Archive for November, 2011

There was a day in history on which the whole world went dark from noon until three in the afternoon.  What horrific event caused this, and why is it significant?

Matthew’s Gospel describes the death of Jesus Christ. Part of his account details this darkening of the land, which took place just before the Son of God shouted His last words and ceased to live in the physical realm.  Earth itself would miss this man, it appeared.

For awhile, it was truly a black Friday.  That’s always the case when God seems absent from the situation. I feel bleak. Confused. Depressed. There is nowhere to turn and there are no concrete answers. All the books and teachings come up short. These are the darkest times in life.

Fortunately, Jesus didn’t leave His creation alone.  He never does.  Instead, His Spirit came to reside in His followers, just as He had promised.  This is still the case today, as God Himself comes to me in the form of His people as often as through any other equally miraculous way.

The original black Friday was pretty devastating.  The story had a happy ending, though, which is a true cause for thanksgiving.

People who join together on the journey of faith sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron, the Bible says.  For a long time I had the meaning of this all wrong.

I once thought this scripture meant that when somebody did something I considered a bit odd, it was my obligation to correct that person.  “I need to sharpen him, as iron sharpens iron”, I’d reason.

Now I realize that the purpose of other people’s behavior is to sharpen me.  The one in the group who is hard to love is there to teach me to better love.  The individual who requires patience while rambling on in conversation is in my life to help increase my patience.  Likewise, the friend who displays overwhelming grace is an example that challenges me to show more grace.  They all are instruments of God doing what they do, which sharpens me by extension.

This process requires no real effort on my part, other than to stay engaged with some humans – and the deeper the relationships can go, the better.  In the context of true community, people DO sharpen each other.  It’s not something for which we have to strive.  It simply happens, like the Bible said it would.

In a world where great value is placed on being cutting edge, the method for the spiritual life is simple.  Just show up.