Stability

The search for stability underlies most of our desires. We aim for security, relationship, affection, regular financial growth, and even patterns of exercise, grooming, and personal hygiene. We like stability because, well, for one thing it makes us feel like the future is predictable. We like the feeling of having expectations met. Illness, break-ups, downturns in the economy or personal finances, can infect our attitude on how we face the day, how we relate to others, and even how we take care of ourselves. When, as followers of Jesus, we say, “God is our rock,” we are claiming an experience of stability that we believe will continue regardless of our circumstance. But, as followers of Jesus, what this means is that we are always engaged with God’s presence and purposes in the world. Jesus said that the person who “puts [his] words into practice” is the one whose stability is like a person who builds a house on the rock. It’s the regular participation and practice that creates stability… not expecting that things will just continue as they are because we’re nice people. There is no one who can claim that our country is not in chaos at the moment. There are thousands of people who have just shifted to unemployment from government jobs who can assure us of that chaos. The reason for all the changes may be in Project 2025, but the experience of the change has everyone off kilter. The people who have lost their homes, stores, churches, and loved ones in the fires around L.A. can assure that chaos is real. The people around the world who thought that medical assistance was in place through USAID can assure us that they know chaos. So, I remind you that only those who “put into practice” the words of Jesus will find stability. It is as we continue to live out the call of God in our lives to be part of his new society that we will extend that stability to others, even those who don’t believe they can find it at this moment. Blessings, Geoff