Our passage this Sunday - Luke 1:8-28 - the story of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptizer. The main point from this story - Spiritual Calluses. A thickness to our soul that hardens are heart to God’s presence and work in our midst.
Read the story. Zech was a priest called into the highest service. God shows up but Zech isn’t prepared. He’s been callused by the rituals or lack of spiritual preparation on his part. God gives him a gift of 9 months of silence. He can hear, see, reflect, think and explore but he can’t talk.
The temple is not suppossed to be a “thick” place but it is supposed to be a “thin” place between us and God. The thick places have developed a cynicism or a familiarity that breads inactivity - even boredom. The thin places provide a closeness, heightened awareness, and increased excitement from the proximity of the spiritual in our current situation.
Where are you thick - calloused? Where are you thin and ready to hear God?
#1 by dsmith on November 25th, 2009 - 11:40 am
I must admit that my thin places usually come from external pressure - anxiety, worry, anger that arises within me because of a current bad situation causes me to fall on my knees before God. I cry out to him - get angry with him - ask him why. I sometimes read the Scriptures or sit in silence. I wish it weren’t so. I wish I could find the thin places without the external motivation but usually that brings me to the thin place.
#2 by dsmith on November 25th, 2009 - 11:42 am
I’ve also found the thin places to be in retreat. When I get time designed to be quiet and away from the speed and requirements of life, there I find thin places too. Often there I get a peak of heaven.
#3 by dsmith on November 25th, 2009 - 11:43 am
The thick places for me - hurry. When I’m in a hurry I put on blinders and work to accomplish my goals and may totally blow by God trying to get my attention.