Reflection on Romans 8:14-17 (from Sunday, May 15, 2016)

It was not just the fear of flying that was causing her heart to race, though that was definitely a part of it. As the graduate stared out the car window at the flights taking off at the airport, she wondered what her life was going to be like.

The village she was assigned to work in had nothing more than small round huts for buildings. What that going to be her life? Was she leaving the security of her home with its refrigerator and washer and dryer for the luxury life found in a 10 foot wide home made of sticks? Was she really leaving the luxury of her smart phone, along with the contacts of all her friends in order to go help out complete strangers?

As a Young Adult in Global Mission, she would be the hands of feet of the church in a foreign land. But, more than that, she would be the hands and feet of Christ to a people who struggle to live day to day on their small farms.

It all seemed like a noble calling. It all seemed like a once in a lifetime opportunity, which it was. But, now as she walked toward the security gate of the airport, she started to fear.

She is not alone. There is a lot to be afraid of in this world. Her plane could be taken over by terrorists and blown up. She could be mistaken for another person and not allowed back into the country of her birth. Her funding for the year could dry up and she would have nothing more to live on than those struggling farmers with hand tools. Cancer could strike one of her parents, and she would not be there to hold their hand. There is so much to fear in this world.

“All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption.”

The words of her confirmation memory verse comforted her as she looked for gate B25 and sped along the moving walkways of the airport. She is a child of God. She has been given gifts that can help others. She has been called to be a neighbor to those who have few. She is a child of God, led by the Spirit into an uncertain future.

Jesus was led I the same way (by the Spirit) out into the wilderness. He too did not know what he would find there. It might have been a good thing too, because evil resided there. Had he known, maybe fear would have overtaken him. Maybe, he would not have gone out into the wilderness in the first place.
No, that is wrong, Jesus would not have given into fear.

Jesus had been given the Holy Spirit. Jesus was given the Spirit at his baptism, and the Spirit walked beside him.

The Spirit walked with him as healed the sick on the Sabbath Day in front of the furrowed brows of the men with power.

The Spirit walked with Jesus as he taught about God’s kingdom in front of those who plotted to get rid of him with sideways glances.

The Spirit stayed with him all the way through the pounding nails and spitting from soldiers to his last breath on the splinter rich wood of the cross.

As a dead grain planted in a tomb, the Spirit infused Jesus with new life, and he burst from the tomb.

Jesus did not fall back into a life of fear. He took that first step out into the wilderness. And, Jesus did not back down when the road seemed uncertain and dangerous. Jesus knew who he was. Jesus was the son of God. And Jesus knew that he was not alone. He was empowered by the Spirit.

With that in mind, she held onto something tightly as she handed her boarding pass over to the flight attendant. She held onto it tightly even as the fear threatened to form a lump in her throat as she walked the narrow path to the waiting plane…as she walked the narrow path to a new life with new people in a new world (a new world to her at least.)

You too have been given this same gift…the same gift to which she clung tightly.

It is what allows you to look beyond the fear of financial ruin, and still give a little to your neighbor when you see them walk in the door with an almost empty grocery bag.

It is what allows people like you to look beyond the fear of the stranger, and have compassion on a mother who cannot even speak English, but still needs someone to help watch her children while she works.

It is what allows a church that is shrinking in people and money to still be the people of God right here, right now.

The gift to which she clung tightly is what allows a young confirmation student to say, “Some people say they feel sorry for someone but don’t do anything about it. Therefore, if I feel sorry for someone or believe I need to help, I will do it.”

The gift to which she clung tightly is a lot like another confirmation student’s bold proclamation: “We are all a part of God’s family, even if some don’t want to think it. We will all be given what God has promised us eventually, just maybe not at the moment.”

As she put her luggage in the overhead compartment and gingerly sat down next to a smiling man with a full beard, she took the gift in her hand, put it on her thumb, and drew on her own forehead; one line down, and one line across.

With that small cross, she reminded herself that she is not a slave to fear. She is not a slave to the sin of doing nothing. She is a child of God, adopted as a child of God, and she will never go alone. Even now, the Spirit flies with her as she takes her first step out into her own unknown wilderness to love her neighbor.

As they watch the plane lift into the air, her parents could not be more proud of their child…their child of God.

For more information on ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission:
https://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Global-Church/Global-Mission/Young-Adults-in-Global-Mission