Stability in Liminal times
Richard Rohr wrote about liminal space in his meditation this morning. He defined liminal space as ‘where we are betwixt and between, having left one room or stage of life, but have not yet entered the next.’
There is no doubt this is a liminal time in our personal, community and global lives. We know things are not going to return to the way they were, and we don’t know what our new reality is going to look like. My question to myself this morning was, “How do I stay stable while inhabiting liminal space?”
My bible reading for today was Luke 11: 5-11. This passage describes a friend going to another friend at midnight, knocking on his door and asking to borrow some bread to feed to a friend who arrived late at night. Initially the friend refuses to lend him the bread, but because the man is very firm about his request, he gets what he is asking for. Jesus then says, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Other scriptures came to mind along these lines:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication make your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your minds and hearts in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6-7
“ You have not, because you ask not.” James 4:2
What came home to me today was that the key to feeling stable in liminal times for me is to remember to simply ask God for what I need. Serenity and stability come when I take everything ‘in prayer and supplication’ to God.
It isn’t so much getting an answer that brings the feeling of stability, but having a reliable place to take my worries and cares.
This is a principle I learned when I was a teenager, but that does not mean that I have practised it perfectly throughout my life. Not at all! It seems to be a principle and a practice which is easily forgotten in times of stress. So I am reminding myself and sharing with you that we have a God who cares, a God who is ready and willing to hear and take on the burden on our worries and fears. Isn’t that amazing? And isn’t that a great relief!!