We weren’t even in Chicago-proper yesterday afternoon, but I was ever so grateful to have a Trusted-Driver-and-Guide to get us out of that Toddling Town.
Our first-ever face-to-face meeting of the leaders of Kairos Prison Ministry in Illinois took place in the suburbs of the Windy City – Oak Park, to be precise. And when it wrapped up in the early afternoon, our little traveling party was treated to what I considered to be a mildly amazing phenomenon: heavy rush-hour traffic, coming and going, at 2:15 on a Saturday afternoon.
Seriously? Bumper-to-bumper, on a Saturday afternoon?
Some folks might be used to that sort of thing. I for one was glad to be a permanent resident of St. Louis, with its much less pervasive patterns of traffic jams. AND I was glad to be in the back seat, with no responsibilities other than to encourage our amiable chauffer with my occasionally witty banter.
It took the better part of an hour, but at last we traversed the (apparently typical) tie-ups and hit the open road.
Frustration…followed by freedom!
Though we still had many hours (and many miles) ahead of us, it felt like we’d experienced a grace in that moment – a blessing merited only by our perseverance.
I was reminded, then, of the blessing we Kairos Volunteers had received earlier in the day – when Reverend Adonna Reid opened our meeting with a soul-stirring reflection and prayer. Pastor of First United Methodist in Oak Park (where the meeting was held), Reverend Reid artfully recalled the promise that comes with perseverance in ministry:
Lord God, I thank you for each and every person around this table. Each shoulder where my hand lands, won’t You allow these brothers and these sisters to feel Your hand land upon them? And whatever they need, Lord – courage, inspiration, uplifting in the midst of discouragement … God, we pray right now that Your Spirit will rain down and fill this room … so that turning to the right, nor to the left, going forward, going backwards, they cannot get away from You … Lord, allow them to continue to see You at work, preparing the way before them. And remind them that the battle is not theirs. It is Yours. And that frankly, the battle has already been won. The victory is ours!
We know that You are mighty. We know that You are powerful. We know that there is no foe that is bigger than You. So whatever obstacles may be in their way – whether they need healing in their mind or in their body or in their spirit, I am praying … that all those stumbling blocks might be moved to the side … and that they be free for joyful obedience to You. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Blessed in this powerful way, we Kairos Volunteers were able to sort through the strategies and challenges ahead, as we work to reignite a statewide ministry that’s still nursing more than a few COVID-inflicted wounds. And I was moved to reflect that this is often the way spiritual healing happens. It takes time. Faith-filled perseverance is often required.
But when you commit to the road – even a road crowded with obstacles – your patience will be rewarded. Like the leper we meet in today’s gospel passage, at long last our eyes will lock with the Lord’s – as we pour out our hearts’ desire: “If you wish, You can make me clean.” And our even our most frustrating travel times will conclude with the words we long to hear from Jesus: “I do will it. Be made clean.”
A bit of “open road” beauty to cap off our travel time…
Let us pause now…to recall that we are in the presence of the Holy & Merciful One.
IHS
With Us Still 