This scripture tells of Jesus letting go his safe place in heaven, to become one of us, and to continue the journey downwards, into being a servant, and suffering death for us. Then he was lifted up, out of death, and into the highest place of all, with everyone, in heaven on earth, bowing down to him and honouring him. That pattern of reaching rock bottom is often part of our experience. Not everything is super successful every moment, and neither should it be. We all must learn the lessons of letting go our ‘little’ ideas about who we are and how life should be. Then we are lifted up into the bigger life of God – resurrection, forgiveness, shame removed, mercy and compassion, new vocations or older ones revisited in new ways.
I was listening to a Christian podcast last week https://cac.org/podcasts/ruthie-lindsey/ where US woman Ruthie Lindsey told how her life had been parked in pain for 7 years, with her barely getting out of bed. She managed to slowly get off drastic painkillers, and discovered a gift for capturing beauty, and also being able to help others to appreciate, receive and live in love, as they learned to deal with whatever was not good or easy in their life.
I believe we all have ‘letting go’ times in our lives where the mindset we currently have can’t get us through, and we are stuck in ways that cause us and those who love us distress. At those times we support and listen to each other, and we look for the way of Christ – acceptance of the not-so-nice parts of us as well, and letting go of expectations that are not working. Then there will be the lifting up into Christ’s life and a new way through.
Ruthie talked about the Japanese art of dealing with broken pottery by repairing it with gold. I believe that is what Jesus does with each one of us – pours his golden love and healing into our broken places. Suddenly we are so much more valuable.
