Living in the Spirit

July 15, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 2:11-22

So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by those who are called ‘the circumcision’—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.

I worked as a social worker for five years, including working with the poor and child welfare, serving as a child welfare supervisor and social work supervisor at a large teaching hospital. Encouraged to apply for an agency scholarship to get my master’s degree in social work, I had to return one year of work for each year of schooling. Thus, after my first year, I was assigned to work a year in our state office before completing my second year and receiving my MSW. During that first year of schooling, my field placement was with a wonderful organization working on behalf of the aging, and I learned a lot. Because of that experience, my primary assignment while working that interim year was to help develop our programs for the aging. I loved the work, but I got frustrated with others working on the project because they would not accept my contributions directly. Everything I did had to be approved by my supervisor. That was not the case with anyone else on that team.

I sat in frustration across the desk from my supervisor as I had to bother him one more time to sign off on what I had done before it could be presented to the decision-makers. I apologized to him for interrupting his work because he did know what I was doing and had helped me a couple of times when I got stuck. I said, “I do not know why they do not trust my work.” He laughed and said, “You do not know the magic handshake.” I look at him with a raised eyebrow as he said, “You do not have your MSW. All the other members of the team do. Having that degree is their measure of ability.” He signed it without reading it, handed it to me, and said, “Now get in there and do your thing.” When I returned to the same office after getting my MSW, I carried the secret handshake with me, and I hope I never applied it to any of my co-workers.

I learned a lot in graduate school and fully appreciated the opportunity that was afforded me. However, such outward measures of who we are or what we can do are shorthand for acceptance in most societies. That does not make them right or wrong, but they should never be the sole measure. I think that is what Paul was stressing in the above scripture.

The story of Samuel seeking a new leader for the Hebrews states it this way,  But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I the Lord looks on the heart.‘ –1 Samuel 16:7

Prayer: Lord, help us see others as you see them as we worked together in your service. 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.