This Sunday in worship our lectionary text is going to take us to the site of Jesus's Transfiguration. In preparing for this Sunday's sermon, I have been reflecting on transfiguration and transformation all week. What are the times that we experience the greatest transformations? How do we carry the lessons of the times of change and growth into the more normal or commonplace periods of our lives? How do these experiences help us become more like Christ?
Last week, MCCGSL member Kay Lynn Firsching competed in her first powerlifting competition at the ripe young age of 65! When I look at the way that Kay Lynn has transformed her body and her health over the last decade of her life, it really makes me think about the life-long nature of spiritual growth. I don't have the space to share it all here, but I really encourage you to read Kay Lynn's own reflections on her journey to becoming "One of the Strongest Grandmothers in America" by clicking here.
We can often make the mistake of trying to turn our spiritual path into the line at McDonald's...on a search for fastest (often lower quality) spiritual food. And yet we know that most of the truest things that develop in our spiritual lives are disciplined and formed over longer periods of time. In fact, spirituality isn't even about a destination. There are no prizes for first place, for achieving the most holy life, or for being the greatest world-changer. Jesus recognizes that brokenness, injustice, suffering...all of that is baked in, forever a part of the human experience.
So, the important thing isn't to win. It is to stay on the path. Keep the faith. May we continue down this road so that years from now we can look back and say, as Kay Lynn did it in her article, "I look at my numbers and I am proud of all the work I have done in the last 14 years to be able to do this. Other times I look at my numbers and I am astonished. I cannot quite believe that I can do that. It’s wow, just wow.
May we all look back at our journey with Jesus and say, "Wow, just wow."