Sometimes in our faith journey, we find ourselves in need of a reminder as to how we are to do the work. In a world that often feels so negative, so energy consuming, it is necessary that sometimes we are able to step back and ask ourselves, “with what attitude am I approaching this situation?”
It is not a self-deprecating question; it is a reality of this journey. There will be times when it is important to have this moment of self-assessment, or self-check, where it is important to find the light in the world.
For me, finding light is about more that searching out the positives in a situation, it is about the intention with which we are doing the work. In Philippians 2:12-18 we are asked as followers of Jesus to do the work, “without murmuring and arguing”.
I am sure we have all been in spaces where we have not exactly followed this advice and yet the work has still gotten done. I am sure all of us have been in that project or meeting where no one could agree on anything but somehow everyone ended up knowing what needed to happen. However what was our intention in these spaces? Was it searching for light and life-giving?
The reality of this passage is that it is not something that is easy. It is also not a one-dimensional ask. It is not a call to be passive, to never stick up for our truth. It is a call to recognize our intention when we are standing up for our truth.
Is it to prove someone else wrong? Or is it to create a situation where everyone can be heard and grow?
The next part of this passage calls us to light in times of darkness. This is a challenge, and yet it is a beautiful part of our journey of faith. When we ask ourselves, where is the light here? What are the ways that we are able to be light? What are the things that we are doing as individuals, as church, as Christians to extend love and hospitality into our world?
It allows us to open our hearts and minds to the situation in a way that allows growth and transformation. It creates space for us to exist in a challenging world not constantly feeling the burden of fixing everything all the time.
This opens our journey to a place of hope, of love, of light.
Melissa Hurley is Pastor at Kelseyville United Methodist Church and Middletown Community United Methodist Church. Please join us in Kelseyville at 9 a.m. or Middletown at 11 a.m. as we explore the book of Philippians and it’s relevance in our modern lives. All are welcome.
