Oneness
Rev. Melody Kimbrel, Cottonwood Falls United Methodist
Originally published 02:46 p.m., February 1, 2008
Updated 02:46 p.m., February 1, 2008
One thing I ask of the Lord this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
— Psalm 27:4
The psalmist says, “one thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek.” If you or I only asked one thing of the Lord what would it be? Think about it. If right now you could only ask one thing of God what would it be? If forever more you could only ask one thing of God, what would it be?
At a retreat there was something of a delay and we had some time to fill. The pastor had us number off and face each other. Then she would ask questions and we had to share with whoever we were facing. Partners changed and there were more questions. It was really a “get to know you and we’ve got to kill some time” kind of thing. But then she said, “You are standing before the throne of God. You can ask one thing. What will you ask?” My answer was there almost before she finished the question and the tears came, and they still do when I think about it. And I think it is highly impertinent and yet, in many ways, my answer remains the same. My answer was “Can I sit in your lap?” What is your answer? What will you ask?
The Psalmist says he seeks to live with God every day, to gaze on God’s beauty, to seek God’s face. My answer, coming off the top of my head as it did, was more simplistic and less poetic. But it has within it much the same thought. It is the desire to be constantly in touch with God, so in touch that it is impossible to be out of touch. So present with God that doubt does not disturb and fears cannot haunt. It is the knowledge that if I can be so close to God that I see his face all the time, then I will be strong and courageous. I’ll be more like Wyatt Earp — you know, brave, courageous and bold and less like me — wimpy, weepy and wounded. If I can reach a point in my relationship with God that I am so close to God all the time that there is no separation between us, then I will not so often doubt either myself or my ability to hear my God. It is what Jesus prayed for us in his priestly prayer as we have it in the 17th chapter of John when he prayed, “that they may be one as we are one.” Oneness, that unity of spirit is what we seek. It is what the psalmist says is the one thing he asks of God. So the question is: how do we become one with God? When is oneness of spirit reached? Do I have to wait until I die? If eternal life is now, if abundant life is now, then surely this oneness is also now. Joyce Rupp in her book, Prayer, says it “is a kind of companionship that develops step by step, as we are drawn into an ever expanding oneness of love.” A oneness of love. Isn’t that a great definition of life with God? Yet Rupp uses it as a definition of prayer. Yes. Prayer, meditation, contemplation, whatever kind of prayer best suits your personality, but prayer draws us into oneness with God and when we absent ourselves from daily personal quiet time and prayer, it is very difficult to have or feel one with God because we have broken the connection as surely as unplugging the television breaks the connection with its electrical supply. Julian of Norwich said that “prayer fastens the soul to God.”
Our spiritual disciplines and especially prayer are what align us to God. We don’t pray so that we can change God’s mind. We pray so that we can receive the mind of Christ. E. Stanley Jones says, “Prayer is surrender — surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boathook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God.” Living constantly in God’s will is oneness with God. Amen.
Sunday Sermon” is a forum for Emporia area ministers to share their sermons, thoughts and observations. This week’s sermon is from the Rev. Melody Kimbrel, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Cottonwood Falls.
scrutinizer (anonymous) says...
Very eloquent, Melody. Soothing and inspiring, all at the same time! Maybe you aren't all that "wimpy, weepy an wounded" at all. Blessings upon you for your beautiful lesson.
February 1, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )