Reflections
February 14, 2010
Theologian Frederick Buechner offers some insight into the term Holy. In his book Wishful Thinking, he writes, "Only God is Holy, just as only people are human. God's holiness is part of his Godness. To speak of anything else as holy is to say that it has something to do with God's mark upon it. Times, places, things, and people can all be holy, and when they are, they are usually not hard to recognize."
To experience the holy in the terms the Reverent Buechner means is to look at our experiences differently. To look at those around us and even ourselves with uncommon expectations. Jesus moved throughout his ministry with just such a model of faithfulness. When healing, He focused not on disease but health and wholeness. When criticized for breaking the laws of faith, He reminded the people that laws were made to serve people, not the reverse; and the ultimate service was toward God. The people Jesus chose as disciples and later sent as apostles were folks who had seen holiness in him...in his speech, touch, manner and movement. We experience anew that holiness when we read the story of faith in Scripture. Be it the story of the patriarchs, the narrative of Bethlehem, the calling of the disciples or the letters of Paul to mission churches, we see and feel the holiness in the story. We fail as modern believers if we view it as something holy which happened. The holiness of God which Jesus spoke and the Bible records is happening still.
What does it mean to experience a holy moment? Most of us have had one if we take the time to remember. Births, baptisms, communion, weddings, funerals all provide opportunities for holy moments. However, holiness is not regulated to houses of worship or worship events. The beauty of a rainbow can be a holy moment. Wild flowers blooming in the desert are holy. The sun rising over the mountains is holy. The sun setting over the water is holy. You and I, if we dare, can be holy for each other and this world when we allow something of God's love to show in us.
Imagine if we looked at each other with reverent expectancy, counting on good and glorious things to come from each other. If you are one who believes holiness happens only in lofty surroundings, take the time to watch a child chase a butterfly or two old folks play chess. Holiness happens not because of us, but in spite of us because of God's grace in our midst.
Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601
