Long breath for far distances
"Breathless" - this word aptly describes our current situation. In many areas of life, the pace is fast and the tempo is increasing. Changes - both necessary and useless - leave us breathless. Challenges of all kinds demand that we deal with them at ever shorter intervals. Crises, wars and conflicts compel us to provide clear assessments as quickly as possible. But who can do that?
Everywhere I go these days, I experience a lot of uncertainty. There is a sense of having to do "something" very urgently before it's all too late. This is spreading immense pressure. Quick solutions and simple answers seem to offer relief. Very simple: right or left, black or white, for or against, for me or against me. There is nothing in between. Where should I turn? What is right? The search for the answer leaves us breathless. - Time to think and to weigh things up? Time to pay attention to different perspectives? Time to wait? Time to pray? Time to endure and let things mature? Time for the right moment, the kairos?
As Christians, we really do have something to contribute to many current debates. It suits us very well to stand up for a free, just, sustainable, peaceful and deeply human society together with other people of good will. We can and should do this. But some of us are running out of breath. Breathless.
How do we regain our breath? - When we pause; when we repeatedly reflect in our words and actions on what ultimately sustains us. Particularly because there is so much that rushes us and takes our breath away, we need times and places to encounter God, times of silence and prayer, times to consciously contemplate what sustains us: God's closeness. With him we can breathe again. Here we gain the long breath for far distances. In impressive words, Gerhard Engelsberger describes what can happen when we remain still in God's presence:
Here you find "happiness", but not "at the expense of ...". Here you experience "freedom", but not without "responsibility". Here, "guilt" is addressed but does not obstruct the "future". Here I find a "center" that does not exclude "those on the margins". Here I experience " serenity" and at the same time "excitement" about injustice experienced. Here, "salvation" is not an individual concept, but a collective one. At the same time, "collective salvation" is not bound to ethnic, denominational or ritual affiliations. The "salvation" of the individual remains bound to the community. And the community will not find its "salvation" without the "happiness" of the individual. *
* Gerhard Engelsberger, Kleines Spirituale für Menschen in geistlichen Berufen, Gütersloh 2004
I sincerely wish you a blessed festive season. Draw breath! Let yourselves be touched on Good Friday by the fact that God gave himself in Jesus into the abyss of destruction, hatred and death. On Easter, be inspired by the fact that God in Jesus overcame all evil and made way for life. Good Friday and Easter are the decisive moments that changed the world. Breathe a sigh of relief!
Grace and Peace,
Written by Bishop Harald Rückert
Bishop Rückert is the Resident Bishop Germany Central Conference of The United Methodist Church and is the Co-Chair of the European Methodist Council Executive Committee.