Fears can free us

 God has varied ways to get the attention of certain persons, like us.  The Angel appeared to Mary out of nowhere, except heaven [Luke 1:26-38].   Moses stumbled into a bush which burned [Exodus 3].  Elijah heard whispers [1 Kings 19].  Peter caught a boatload of fish [Luke 5:1-11].  My own revelation came in a dream.  Today we celebrate a knock-over.  Saul of Tarsis hit the ground, stunned.

Saul was a Jewish zealot, a protector of his religious traditions as well as a self-determined persecutor of anything which was different and therefore threatening.  His conversion was quite an interruption in his life, dramatic and up-close and more personal than most conversion narratives [Acts 9:1-22].

Saul sees a flash, but then can no longer visually see.  He is escorted ironically to Straight Street to have his sight returned and to turn him from his old ways towards the “Way”.   Saul’s view of his mission and so his identity is changed, more literally, turned.  He listens and takes in all that speaks of Jesus and the Way.   His name is turned as well and he turns from persecuting the Body to becoming the proclaimer, proponent, the apostle who rises from his being knocked down to his standing up with all he had received.

So there you have it, quite a story and the remainder of his life is spent in forming, by his preaching and ways of living and suffering, the Body which once he tried to extinguish.  What is in this story for us and about us?

There is so much self-formation, self-determination, so much self-certainty which can get us up on our own high horses.  I speak of others, not you nor me of course.  There are also many interruptions from the Spirit of God calling us back to earth, back to seeing ourselves and others in a straighter, more blessed way.  One helpful little suggestion offered here might just be like a burning bush, or little whisper.  Watch for ideas, the new, the different, the bumps in the night, which stimulate fears.  They often knock us backward and yet can call us toward a more blessed way of being His Body.  Fears can blind us, freeze us, imprison us.  Fears can free us to ask the more important questions and maybe there will be new answers inviting us to a conversion to a newness of self and life as with Saul Paul and so many others.

Lord, I do love You and desire to be used by You in the way that You choose. Help me to convert my heart more fully to You so that I can be led by Your gentle and powerful hand. I accept whatever mission You give to me and pray that my life will give You true glory and further Your glorious Kingdom on earth. Jesus, I trust in You.