Discerning

2 Kings 2:1-12; Mark 9:2-9

Fear, it can keep us from doing things, it can make us shut down, it can make us babbling idiots, and this is what happens to Peter. He is so scared of what he is seeing he wants to have it make sense. So, build something to mark the site, right? 

Discernment, it is a word which fills us with fear. We come to church expecting to worship, but do we ever expect to be touched? To be asked to give up something. To have to look deeper within ourselves to where God might be calling us. We think discernment is only for people going through holy orders, keep it away from the rest of us, what are we afraid we might find there?

I'm sure as Peter, James and John walked away from this incident and into the events of holy week and then Jesus death and resurrection this event became a touchstone. A way to discern what all of these events meant. It also is the path Jesus went to, not answering Peter's question, but to action. First to walk down the mountain and into all the pain of his death. Then to keep going deeper and deeper into what was going to happen the whole week. Last suppers, torture, desertion, death all for this greater purpose of displaying God's love.  I wonder how often these disciples looked back on this and received not only comfort, but to stir themselves out of sorrow and heartache to action.

Faith is an action. It is more than just attending church on a Sunday morning. It should be displayed in your own life and in your own interactions with others. Like the man imprisoned in Guantanamo prison, who even though he was innocent would not let the torture and mistreatment crush his spirit. He would joke with the guards and this led to worse treatment, but it was his own and their humanity he was in touch with. He would not let this take away who he was.

Discerning who we are and whose we are is a life-long journey. It doesn’t just end because we have reached the destination. I think of the example of Elisha following Elijah today. All the other prophets telling him his master was going away, he knew. It was okay, he kept companioning on the journey because he knew this was a part of discerning who he would become. A prophet for Israel.

How do we take this walk into deeper discernment? We need to be walking, companioning with God daily. Do you pray every day? Do you read scripture and think of what it means to your life right now? Do you have another practice of listening to what God is calling you to do? All of these are valid ways to discern. Whatever it is it is a way to connect to the one who made us and claims us. Just as Jesus heard God’s voice today, we need to companion this well where we might just dare to follow a prophet to their leaving this world.

All of the wonder filled stories I have heard come from connecting with this deep inner well. In the Guardians of Ga’hoole movie the owl, Soren must learn how to fly in a storm. His mentor tells him he must let go and sense the wind, waves, lift, swirl from within. Once he does this it is a beautiful example of baptism, leaning into God and letting go of our own ideas, discerning where the Holy Spirit is leading us. After all, in baptism we take up a new life, the life of faith, the life of listening to God, the life of hearing where the Spirit leads.

Are you ready to take up this mantle? Do you dare to leave the mountain top of ease and go down into the fray where it is messy and undefined? The journey is worth the effort. It takes us to the heart of finding ourselves again and again beloved by God.