Hello friends,
This is Mark Gladman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighbourhood monk in dogs.
Welcome to our series of reflections.
Stay here.
Sometimes in our lives we reach places where we just can't see the way forward.
We look ahead and there just doesn't seem to be a clear path.
Maybe you're waiting for something to change or you're facing a decision or something you thought would work has actually come to an end.
Or maybe you're just in a season where everything feels really uncertain.
There's a moment like this,
A story.
In Exodus,
Chapter 14.
The Israelites have left Egypt.
They've begun their journey.
They find themselves trapped.
The sea is in front of them.
Pharaoh's army is coming in behind them.
There doesn't appear to be anywhere to go.
And Moses says to the people,
Do not be afraid.
Stand Firm.
And I wonder.
.
.
What these words might mean when we hear them.
From within our own uncertainty.
Because standing firm.
.
.
It doesn't necessarily mean knowing what you're going to do.
You may not have the five-year plan,
You may not feel very confident.
But even then you can still stand firm because standing firm just means not running away from the moment that you're in.
It literally is the epitome of our whole series to stay.
Here.
The Israelites in this story can't see the way forward.
But interestingly they're still being led.
Just because they can't see.
A visible path doesn't mean that there is no path.
It just means they can't see it yet.
And as we've already reflected on.
Sometimes we want God to show us the whole way.
Tell me where this is going.
Tell me what will happen.
Tell me everything that'll work out.
Give me the map.
But faith asks something different from us.
Stay.
Breathe.
Do not be afraid.
Wait for the next thing to become visible.
And if you're facing uncertainty right now.
The whole of the journey doesn't need to be sorted today.
But what this story tells us is you don't even necessarily have to know what's going to happen next.
Maybe for this moment,
All that's needed is for you to just stand where you are.
Now just for a moment,
Take a nice deep breath.
And as you do.
.
.
Feel the ground beneath your feet.
Notice that you are here.
And perhaps openly state what the situation is.
I don't know what comes next.
And as you say it,
Let it be true.
I don't know what comes next.
But follow that up with,
But I am here.
I may not know what comes next,
But I am here.
And sometimes that's what standing firm looks like.
Just remaining present,
Being open and being willing to take the next step when the next step becomes clear.
The sea was still there,
The army was still behind them,
Nothing had changed yet and yet Moses could say,
Do not be afraid,
Stand firm.
And maybe just like the Israelites,
You can do that too.
You may not know how the story ends,
They certainly didn't.
But you don't have to know.
And you can stay here for as long as you need.
Until you can see.
The next step to take.
Let's just sit with that.
For a few moments.
You and when the way opens up.
Then you can walk.
Until then.
.
.
Breathe.
Stand.
Trust.
Be here and may grace,
Peace and love be with you as you stand today and always.
Remember friend,
You don't need the whole road.
All you need to do is stay here.
Until the next step becomes visible.
Until tomorrow.
Bye for now.
