In both light and shadow, discerning the path of the Spirit’s guidance becomes an essential emphasis for servant leaders as the world both dances and careens in tilting shades and degrees of good and evil with limited life-sustaining direction.

What do we hear the Holy Spirit saying to the church today?

Is it clear and straightforward, or do we see and hear refracted thoughts more reflective of the obstacles to faith found on dust covered window panes of souls not yet completely surrendered to the fullness of the light he gives?

As he persistently shines through our personal and collective life stories, we become authentically transparent to that which is revealed within.  With a readiness to be transformed by the living word, we assume servant roles of leadership having first been served by Christ who washes away the shadowed webs of ego constructs diffusing pure light with random inconsistency regarding who he is and who we are.

We then come to know the mind of Christ in open lines of communion, Spirit to spirit.

We then become conduits of grace casting straight lines which reflect his table of embrace to the glory of God through souls cleared of any need to be the focal point.

He is.

He is the appointed mediator of a holy God noting lines of genuine faith and service in his name … and he invites us to sit with him as he sups with us and we with him to bask in his love.

Having opened the door to the penetrating revelation of light and life and rebirth in him, we filter his beams of love on the path which is made by walking rather than empty talking which goes nowhere.  This whispered light takes us from stools of comfort into that which lies beyond our cloistered doors where gospel light in darkened nights of suffering sadness brings hope to the world, rays of fresh insight and belonging.

As he contained the sorrow of the world, crushed that we might taste the wine of his eternal life, we follow in his steps to contain the darkness of a fallen world and let the light of Christ reign through us in love, cups of blessing lit and lifted up for him.

Being vessels of his light may at times be challenging: when confronted with demands of worldly pressures to close the door to freedoms which delight the human soul in the righteousness of Christ;  when the gospel message is discredited as if Christ could not bear or be absolute light and his people become unwelcome targets marked for dark opposition.  But it is in the faithful intersecting of Christ’s life with ours that the true colour of our redeemed selves becomes most visible.  It is here he can reveal his character in and through us with joy as blessings of his good news in a global context.

Clear blue waters of Spirit life flowing within.

Will we reflect the Spirit in lovely patterns which point to the Door through whom the God of the universe spoke light into being and now welcomes us home again?  Will we seek to be mindfully present to Jesus who is leading us to the table of a future wedding banquet where all shadows will flee and no more external light will be needed … because he will be there?

‘Lord, may your light shine brightly at the tables set before us today as we practice your hospitality with one another.  Have open access to our hearts and souls as you prepare for for yourself a radiant Bride who will line the courts of heaven with praise.’

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.  Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.  One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after:  that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.”  (Psalm 27: 1-4)

‘Cleanse the windows of our souls from streaks of self-indulgent blindness so we may see the beauty of your kingdom lighting the direction of our ministries and brightening the dullness of our misery in areas which have yet to be fully opened to your healing grace.  

Come in gentleness to wipe away the cobwebs of fear or faltering neglect of inner spiritual work which obscures the power of your life at work in us.  May we be open to each sunlit line of grace extended to us and through us to others.  Amen.’