The Way-less Way Part 4

 

At this point in the week of hold this idea of the way-less way you might have a lot of questions.

Or maybe you are thinking, what is he talking about, “way-less way” that sounds like a paradox stuffed in a contradiction.  If you have time, I encourage you to go back and start with the meditation for Monday.  It’s okay, I’ll wait.

Insert elevator music here~ 

Everyone caught up?  Great.  If you have been following along, you might wonder, “Well, Mr. God is within us and God is where we are, how does this explain why do bad things happen?  Or why does life go off the rails?  Or why suffering?”

Great questions, to which there are no great answers or solutions.  Part of the invitation of the way-less way is not to defend God or blame another person or offer a rationale for these questions.  Rather, the way-less way reminds us that the root of the word, “question”, is quest or journey or direction.  If you are wondering why suffering, we need to spend time with suffering ~ not just skim the surface for platitudes.  What does suffering look like, sound like, feel or smell like in your life? Sink down into the suffering, don’t try to explain it away. What examples of suffering break your heart ~ personally and communally?  What have you heard about suffering?  Did any of it provide comfort in the moment?  It is okay if you had one way through suffering in the past that now is feeling like a dead end or leading you off a cliff to thin air.  Sometimes what helped in the past now hurts us.  We change and grow, so does our faith.  We don’t need to be confined or contained in the boxes of faith we were taught in Sunday School or hear from preachers on television.  The Bible is full of stories about hurt and ache.  This Sunday, we will start a series on Elijah, whose life was a soap opera of famine to fame to fleeing for his life.  Elijah wasn’t given the “plan” of his life, but he made the road by walking, listening, paying attention to the holy hover.  “Okay,” you say, “But God talked to him.”  So did a raven, a widow from a foreign country, and he had to go pick his own successor ~ it really is a great story!  At the same time, it isn’t like this story will solve all that troubles you.  Maybe, there will be enough gleaned from Elijah’s life that will help your life in these days.  It is my prayer, you will keep asking questions, you will keep trying new paths in this way-less way, and you will keep showing up fully with your certainty and doubt ~ for that is who we all are from Elijah to you and me.  With God’s love who is wherever we are. Amen.