My mother at 20 and at 90
It is just over two weeks since my mother died and I am back in Seattle feeling somewhat normal and re-anchored. This is a time of reevaluation for me. One friend wisely commented
No matter our age, I think the passing of our mothers awakens a new life stage for us.
I think she is right. Some things will never be the same again. And in the midst of the ache in my heart, I find myself rethinking my own life and its priorities. I continue to read the book In Search of Sacred Places, which I was reading aloud to my mother in her last few days. It has some great insights for me at this stage. In talking about the Celtic saints who died at the hands of the viking raiders Daniel Taylor comments:
If they were to die, they hoped to do so fully recognized for what they were. (p129)
He goes on to ask the challenging question:
how willing am I to organize my own life and actions and relationships around those spiritual truths that I claim should define every life? How eager am I to be fully recognized? (p130)
For the Celtic saints, all of life was organized in light of spiritual realities. Daily life was an ordered rhythm of worship, work, and study – all as an offering to God.
I am not sure that I can say the same for my own life. We follow a God who was not afraid to suffer and die to draw us close. We adhere to a faith that found its home among the poor and the outcast. It was spread initially by persecution. and rejection, yet we want none of that.
Early Christians were not afraid to be fully recognized, even if it meant their death. Yet for us faith is often a benign and comfortable value, “useful for food drives and homeless shelters, but ugly and even dangerous when it publicly asserts its claims as truth. ” (p129)
I want, in this season of my life to be fully recognized for my faith, not just for I what I say but for how I live out every aspect of my life. I want my purposes to become more aligned with God’s purposes. I want the rhythm of my life to more closely follow a Godly rhythm and I want my actions to more fully proclaim the values and culture of God’s eternal world.
Will you join me on this pilgrim path so that together we may all be fully recognized as the caring, compassionate, generous, life giving people that God intends us to be?
6 comments
This is beautiful. And I agree that the passing of our mother changes the course of our life in some way(s). My mother died nearly ten years ago – and my life is definitely different.
May God continue to hold you close and bathe you in blessings!
Thanks Lisa
Oh this is so good Christine. I am in the middle of lyour book Return to Our senses and loving it.
I lost my mom when I was 21-it will be 40 years this October. Wow I can’t believe that.
But I remember vividly the day I turned 50 saying I don’t want to waste the rest of my life. My husband said I hadn’t wasted the first 50 yrs, but what I really meant is that I wanted to rest of my life to count soley for Jesus. Not sure if I have been solely successful. But am trying. I am the oldest person on Young Life’s College staff.
Thank you for your sweet spirit that is leading me closer to Jesus. I truly do thank you.
Thank you Missy for your encouragement. Allowing our lives to be solely shaped by Jesus and the values of God’s eternal world is not easy. We are constantly pulled away and distracted by the cares and pressures of our world. Keep up the good work. Blessings
love those pictures of your mom! (I am a recent subscriber to your blog. I’d read something about a workshop you presented @ a Wild Goose retreat that intrigued me, googled your name and that’s what brought me here) Both of my parents are still alive, so much of this is still “theory” to me. thank you for writing and being transparent with your life. I appreciate it. DM
Thanks DM.