Nay Sayers, Am I One?

I must catch myself — lest I fall. Falling for anything may seem impossible but tis possible, you know. How do I know? I fall. I fall into the trap of thinking I’m not trapped within a certain mode of thinking. Tis true there is Truth. Reflect on it we must — as we line up the modality of our thinking with His. And what is that? Read on.

As arrows fly, the fall comes when I’m tripping over things by not engaging in civil discussion with my brothers and sisters in order to better understand.

“Fear not for I am with you always,” says Isaiah 41:10. And He is. And if He’s with me always and with you always, is He not with our neighbor always even if they cannot yet see Him as He seeks them? Even when I cannot see Jesus in my neighbor, it does not mean He is not with them — teaching, coaxing, calling and loving them back to His line of holiness.

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” says He in John 14:6. Tis Truth what is spoken here. Yet, wearing the banner without love truly is a signal that perhaps we need take pause and reflect where our own hearts lie. Speaking in love resonates the compassion Christ desires and the only way to go is to bow low.

And so, as the winds blow, staying calm may be difficult. Allowing Him to work within others making all things new takes time. I pray I may not be a stumbling block for others along the way. Speaking words to hearts that are not yet ready to hear is not, perhaps, the best road to hoe lest it be done in love. How can one give advice, or words, or love for that matter to those who don’t even know they have a need?

God knows what He’s doing. Our vision is limited. Like a plow horse whose blinders bind, we see not the panoramic view of that which He is creating. Our vision is skewed this side of the veil, but His is not and thus we pray, “Be Thou our vision, Lord.”

The way, the Truth and the life comes when we see Christ in others whom He also created. The fruit of the lives of others isn’t for us to pick—nor pick on or pick apart. Our job is to love and allow Him to transform. To speak when He says speak, to be silent when the need arises tis a gift to others. We will not burst at the seam as we wait upon Him to do what only He can do—which is to transform hearts.

“His voice was not in the wind … but in the quiet…” (1 Kings 19:11-13). We need not be aghast at the latest method of sin on display within the culture round us — nor do we need to blow a gasket over the evil that He has already overcome. Peace be still and upon our knees we must go to allow the heavenlies to fight the battle. Need we sit by passively? No. But when we pray, wait, and watch vigilantly. We will know when to pick up the mantel of His peace when asked to speak or to go, or to carry. As He calls us to love, listen and hear His still small voice in the wilderness of life, may we be astute. “Be not afraid, I go before you always … come, follow me, and I will give you rest” (Deut. 31:6, Isaiah 41:10, Matt. 28:10). Peace be still. Amen.

Kathleen Kjolhaug, OblSB

This article was first published in Theology in the Trenches, a column written by oblate Kathleen Kjolhaug. Posted with permission. Read more articles on her blog, Theology in the Trenches.