wholehearted
I woke up Monday morning and decided to drive to Chicago. I wanted to see my oldest (adult) kid; it had been too long since we were together in person. Spontaneity is a muscle that weakens without regular exercise. Could I just decide and do it? Check the calendar, water the plants, fill the gas tank, get the oil changed, swing by the library. I found myself searching for permission to leave; sometimes unsure that I am an adult who can just choose.
Jesus of Nazareth was passing by…. And Jesus stopped…. Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through town…. Luke 18:37,40a; 19:1
Do we think of Jesus as being spontaneous? Scripture says he was on his way into town, passing by, when he heard a blind man calling his name. Jesus stopped and healed him. He continued his journey, passing through, then chose to stay. Two men were trying hard to see Jesus, despite the crowd and their own physical limitations. Jesus adjusted his itinerary to meet them.
Sometimes we need to adjust our plan. Sometimes we need to invite ourselves over to someone’s house who will welcome us gladly, spontaneously. Jesus seems to appreciate the effort that both these people put into trying to see him.
When I popped into the library to pick up a book from the “hold” shelf, I made a quick detour through new books on CD to keep me company on the drive. Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans caught my eye. It is strange and powerful to hear her voice- or rather the voices of her friends reading her words- from beyond the grave.
At the time of her tragic death in 2019, Rachel was working on a new book about wholeheartedness. With the help of her close friend and author Jeff Chu, that work-in-progress, woven together with other unpublished writings, is now the foundation for this rich collection of essays that ask candid questions about the stories we’ve been told—and the stories we tell—about our faith, our selves, and our world.
This book is for the doubter and the dreamer, the seeker and the sojourner, those who long for a sense of spiritual wholeness. Through theological reflection and personal recollection, Rachel wrestles with God’s grace and love in an imperfect world, looks unsparingly at what the Church is and does, and explores universal human questions about becoming and belonging.
I am grateful that this spontaneous trip, staying with friends who receive me gladly into their home without notice, put me in position to listen to the words of a fellow traveler who is also trying to see Jesus.
Whether we need to call out with a loud voice when the crowd tries to quiet us. Or run ahead to anticipate Jesus’ movement and scramble up a tree for a better view. I trust that Jesus will appreciate our wholehearted efforts to see. May we also express boldly what we want and receive the healing Jesus extends to our faith. May we host generously and gladly, and may salvation take up residence in our household. -Renée