Resurrection Living: Open Hands

In the next 50 days until Pentecost, the focus for our weekly blog will be "Resurrection Living". As you begin each blog, create a sacred space, be still, quiet your mind, and listen attentively to the Divine Spirit in you.

"I abandon all that I think I am, all that I hope to be, all that I believe I possess. I let go of the past, I withdraw my grasping hand from the future, and in the great silence of this moment, I alertly rest my soul." ~ Howard Thurman

The days following Jesus' death and resurrection turned everything upside down for his followers. Everything changed. They were about to embark on a new journey, a place of not knowing how things would turn out, and a place of new possibilities. Like all threshold moments, there was a powerful call. Paintner describes thresholds as "in between places of security and knowing. On the threshold we are called to release what we thought we knew and our desire to control what is to come. It is an incredibly vulnerable place."

In Mary's grief at the empty tomb, she met the transformed Christ. She tried to cling to what was familiar; however, Jesus told Mary not to hold on to him. Jesus called her to live with open palms, to let go of what she knew and be open to a new direction. The two disciples who were walking along the Emmaus Road were also called to stop holding on to the past and be open to a radical new path. Jesus accompanied them for awhile and listened to their dashed hopes and dreams. They urged Jesus to stay with them but he vanished from their sight after breaking bread with them. In both these instances, Jesus tried to prepare his followers to stop grasping to the past and live with openness to something new and unexpected.

Paintner tells the story of one of the Irish Saints, St. Kevin. Each day he prayed with open hands and outstretched arms. One morning a blackbird landed on his palm and began building a nest. "Rather than grasping or withdrawing his hand, he holds it up for the days or weeks it takes for this new life to be hatched. He received the gift offered to him no matter how uncomfortable."

Resurrection living is to cross the threshold into the unknown with open hands and receive the gifts that comes. Live into new possibilities even when it feels uncomfortable.

Wait

and see what comes

to fill

the gaping hole

in your chest.

Wait with your hands open

to receive what could never come

except to what is empty

and hollow.

You cannot know it now,

cannot even imagine

what lies ahead,

but I tell you

the day is coming

when breath will

fill your lungs

as it never has before,

and with your own ears

you will hear words

coming to you new

and starling.

You will dream dreams

and you will see the world

ablaze with blessing.

Wait for it.

Still yourself.

Stay.

~Jan Richardson

Spiritual Practice:

Become still. Hold a stone (or any object) tightly in your hand. Grasp it even tighter and tighter. Hold it tightly for a moment in silence. Then slowly release your fingers and open your hands. Let the object go. How does it feel to release your palms? What would it feel like to let go of something you are holding tightly so you can experience resurrection living? What gift is being offered to you?

Song: Leaves Don't Drop They Just Let Go by Carrie Newcomer

Resources:

Paintner, C. (March 2016). Practice Resurrection: The Call of Easter,

Abbey of the Arts (April 2021). Day 1 Morning & Evening Prayer: Silence & Solitude

Richardson, J. (2015). "Stay", Circle of Grace: A book of blessings for the seasons. FL: Wanton Gospeller Press.