Epiphany
February 7, 2020
Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 2:1-12
Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,
‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him’—
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. –1 Corinthians 2:6-12
I remember being told as a child that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile. Now I read that may not be true*. There is a catch Even though smiling uses more muscles, it is believed that it takes less effort than frowning. This is because people tend to smile more, which means the relevant muscles are in better shape. When muscles are in better shape, they require less energy (effort) when used*. This made me wonder if effort is the key to muscle produced energy, is effort the key to a healthy spirit?
The lowercase English word spirit derived from the Greek pneuma and the Hebrew rûach essentially describes the essence of humans—the breath of life that connects us to God. The uppercase Spirit defines that same quality in God. Perhaps that is the substance of our being made in the image of God.
My spirit is disturbed as I try to make sense of the chaos of divisiveness that is epidemic throughout our land. I found myself searching for facts about an issue this morning only to find dozens of analysis that differed based on the filter the writer was using to interpret the issue. Fact is now an archaic word as we must deal with the multiple interpretations of truth. As I searched from one article to another, I began looking at the authors to determine which ones I could trust. More than ever I believe we must open ourselves to the leading of the Spirit as our connection to truth and invest our efforts in the spiritual disciplines that will provide the energy we need to end divisiveness and create a world ruled by shared love.
Prayer: Lord, clean the filters in our minds and hearts so that we can fully experience the flow of your empowering Spirit in our lives. Amen.
*https://zidbits.com/2011/09/does-it-really-take-more-muscles-to-frown-than-to-smile/
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.