Categories
Scripture Reflections

Do You Know Him?

This is a reflection I wrote after praying the scripture Luke 22:54-62. If you would like to read the scripture about Peter denying Jesus, you can find here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A54-62&version=NRSV

You may notice some differences between the scripture and the reflection. Praying scripture is an invitation to be inspired by the scripture and see where it takes you. If you would like to know more about praying scripture you can email me at lleffler@live.ca .

It is cold and dark, and I am so tired. I can never seem to keep warm when I’m tired.
What am I even doing here?
This is all so crazy!
Jesus was arrested!
Arrested!

I tried to help in him escape. I tried to fight for him. I even cut off someone’s ear in the struggle.
The thought of it still makes me queasy … that ear … just laying on the ground … all bloody…

No! Don’t think about that!

Oh, God! What am I doing here?

I am so tired …so cold …
Maybe if I could just get warm, I could think.

What are they saying?
Is that person talking to me?

“You were with him!”

What? Me?

“No, I was not!”

Why did I say that? Jesus is my friend, my inspiration. I came here to help him, but I just can’t deal with all these people. I have to get out of this crowd.

“Were you not with Jesus?”

“No, I was not!”

Oh, God! They recognize me. I have to get out of here. I don’t want to say the wrong thing.

I think Jesus wanted to be arrested. He told me to stand down.

What am I supposed to do now?

Maybe if I could just find him …see him …I would know what to do.

If I could just get out of this crowd.

“You were with him!”

“No, I was not!”

If I tell them who I am I will never get out of here – never be able to figure out what to do. They will ask me questions I cannot answer.

Oh, God, what am I doing here?!

There he is! I can see Jesus through the crowd! I can see him! I know him…

“Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.”

He knew this would happen! He knew what I would do! But the question is …

What am I supposed to do now?

Categories
Beauty in Brokenness

Moving Waters

As I watch the water gently flowing by it looks so calm and peaceful – moving so slowly it is almost still.

I am drawn to that stillness. I envy that stillness. To be moving forward at a gentle pace is a state that I work so hard to achieve and I so often miss the mark.

I think I miss out on that peace because I idealize it as a constant state that one can live in but even the river doesn’t enjoy that peace for long. Not far down stream there is a little waterfall where the water changes abruptly from quiet and still to noisy turmoil.

I often forget that the turmoil in life is also a natural state. There are times in life that seem chaotic and overwhelming but underneath that chaos is an opportunity for learning and growth.

A waterfall will not always stay the same. Over time the force of the water will wear away the stone – in some places gentling the drop and at others making it more pronounced. It is influenced by the world around and it leaves a mark on the world as it moves forward.

When you find yourself in times of rushing waterfalls look for places where you can make positive changes in yourself and the world around you.

When your life is in a time of calm and gentle progress forward give thanks for the peace and tranquility in life. And when you find yourself in a time of turmoil know that although times of rapid growth and change can be tiring and overwhelming it won’t last forever.  There will be still waters ahead once again