Living in the Spirit

October 26, 2020

Scripture Reading: Joshua 3:7-17

Joshua 3:7-17

The Lord said to Joshua, ‘This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that I will be with you as I was with Moses.

When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing towards the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan. –Joshua 3:7,14-17

What happens when we reach our destination? Amid a very contentious campaign, we are caught in the waiting time when our leaders are identified—not just the President but also Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, and local leaders of various types. I voted about a month ago, the same day I received my absentee ballot. I long for some magic button to press when all the political ads could be removed from all my media sources. However, it may be useful for me to see them in the clearer light of having already voted. 

I have discovered being honest in ads may hurt the candidate. Have we reached that level of division, or is it denial? If we do not do anything about climate change, then it must not exist?

Sharing ideas and plans about addressing issues is counterproductive to the election. In my memory, this is the first time one of the major political parties did not present a platform.

I have recently had the feeling that we are at a crossing point in our nation. I do not know whether it is crossing over into new and better ways of being or exile. Scary when you think about it, but change always is. My prayer is that we are at another Re-formation where we take stock of our faithfulness to God’s leadership and carefully discern and choose God’s choices for our lives.

Prayer: Lord of Love, direct our responses to our leaderships changing as we strive to be your Body in a very fragmented world. Amen.

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.