Springwood Presbyterian Church: Whitsett, NC

Holey, Whole, Holy

by Reverend Dale Walker | 02/28/10

“Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!”, Isaiah trembled in his sandals overhearing the seraphs praise God. The dictionary defines “holy” as characterized by perfection and transcendence.” Do you expect—even hope--to meet the Holy when you come to church? Annie Dillard writes that when we go to church, we should wear crash helmets, be given life preservers, and be lashed to the pews, in case God does show up! [“Teaching a Stone to Talk”] Isaiah’s vision is as terrifying as the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile: the foundations shaking, the air filled with smoke. I wonder if we want that much holiness! Perhaps we need an encounter with the Living God to shake us up, transform us, heal us, and bring us into God’s circle of holiness. Perhaps that would help us recognize the holy in all things—even in ourselves. But be warned: expect to be changed, just as Isaiah was changed and empowered to speak for God to a troubled country—as Peter was changed from a simple fisherman to be able to follow that strange, nonconformist teacher. If you are willing to be changed from just rocking along in your faith, strap on your crash helmet, grab a life preserver, immerse yourself in God’s word in scripture, and ask what God, through a particular passage, is asking of you. Soak yourself in prayer, opening your heart to listen to God’s words of comfort and words of challenge. Hear and receive God’s forgiveness of you, freeing you from the paralyzing guilt about sin and freeing you to follow Jesus. For us, forgiveness comes not by a burning coal on our lips, but by hearing the good news of God’s great love