December 15

A maddening paradox of this life is that it is hard to become stronger or wiser when things are easy.

I wish that weren’t true.  I wish that comfort could build muscle and bone, that the burdensomeness of wearying weight wasn’t necessary to know the truth of sturdy flesh.

The reason for this divine design?

I have no idea.

But whether we like it or not, fear is surely a sign that the realm of God is near and whatever must be faced can make us more capable of meeting the next challenge. And the next. The call to “be strong, do not fear!” is the reminder to bear our weight, not because words will sturdy the tendons in our hands or re-knit the ligaments in our feeble knees.

But we have come to know that sinew companioning sinew will strengthen and stretch the joints that connect and hold us together.  Fear won’t be abolished until the world is righteous, and fear draws us to the flame that will burn and make us rise.

Prayer

Courageous heart of all that is, Source of All Strength,
like the One for whom we wait grew in a womb,
by your miracle of love, we, too, are fearfully and wonderfully made:
from ashes we come, to ash we return, and in between may we ignite. Amen.