Be Opened
"Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, 'Ephphatha,' that is, 'Be opened.'" - Mark 7:34.
Jesus' command to "be opened" echoes through time, calling us to open ourselves to God's transformative power. Like the deaf man Jesus healed, we, too, need our ears and hearts opened to truly hear God's voice and receive God's healing grace.
Being open means having the desire for healing and change. It requires courage, as we risk not getting what we want and facing potential disappointment or hurt. Even with God, asking for what we want takes desperate courage because healing may not happen as we hope. Being open means letting go of our self-reliance and control and allowing God to work in unexpected ways. I suspect it is the degree of desperation for her daughter that gives the woman from Syrophoenitia the courage to risk, ask, and argue her case despite not getting an immediate response from Jesus.
Suzanne Edmondson's life was turned upside down when her 18-year-old daughter was arrested for her involvement in a crime spree. As the daughter of a judge and wife of a judge, Suzanne was thrust into the national spotlight, facing intense media scrutiny and public judgment. In the wake of her daughter's sentencing to 35 years in prison, Suzanne found herself in a state of disbelief and isolation, struggling to make sense of the chaos that had engulfed her life.
During this tumultuous period, Suzanne began volunteering at the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, where her daughter was incarcerated. She started a program called "Tales for the Rising Moon," which allowed inmates to record bedtime stories for their children. This initiative and her work in providing scholarships to deserving inmates marked a significant shift in Suzanne's life.
More profound than her external actions was Suzanne's internal transformation. Through her journey, she discovered a deeper spiritual mission, moving beyond superficial acts of public service to genuinely connecting with the women she encountered in the prison. This transformation was about doing good works and living a life filled with meaning and spiritual depth.
Suzanne's story is a compelling example of the life-changing impact of being opened. By opening herself to the pain and challenges she faced, she found a new purpose and a deeper connection with God and others.
What areas of your life need to be opened today? Consider ways to cultivate openness in your life.
When we embrace openness in our lives, that's when we truly start to grow spiritually. As Rev. Sue puts it: "For each of us, growth and development require an openness to being challenged and changed, to be open to other people, issues, gifts, opportunities, and new versions of ourselves, the church, and the world. If this process was a bit disturbing for Jesus, how much more so it is for us! Yes, growth can be experienced as an attraction to new and wonderful opportunities and ideas, but it is also often experienced as a giving up or letting go of old "self-evident truths" or assumptions! This is how the seed of the kingdom takes root within and grows in wild and inconvenient ways until we do not show partiality to those who are like us or successful in worldly ways over those who are apparently poor and of little account."
As you reflect on these ways to be opened, consider how you can incorporate them into your daily life. Ask the Holy Spirit to open you—to God's voice, to the needs around you, and to new possibilities. As you open yourself, you'll find God's kingdom growing within and through you in beautiful, unexpected ways.
Pray with me: Lord Jesus, speak your "Ephphatha" over me today. Open my ears to hear you, my eyes to see as you see, my heart to love as you love. Make me available and responsive to your Spirit's leading. Amen.
Written by Rev. Kay Dubuisson
Jesus' command to "be opened" echoes through time, calling us to open ourselves to God's transformative power. Like the deaf man Jesus healed, we, too, need our ears and hearts opened to truly hear God's voice and receive God's healing grace.
Being open means having the desire for healing and change. It requires courage, as we risk not getting what we want and facing potential disappointment or hurt. Even with God, asking for what we want takes desperate courage because healing may not happen as we hope. Being open means letting go of our self-reliance and control and allowing God to work in unexpected ways. I suspect it is the degree of desperation for her daughter that gives the woman from Syrophoenitia the courage to risk, ask, and argue her case despite not getting an immediate response from Jesus.
Suzanne Edmondson's life was turned upside down when her 18-year-old daughter was arrested for her involvement in a crime spree. As the daughter of a judge and wife of a judge, Suzanne was thrust into the national spotlight, facing intense media scrutiny and public judgment. In the wake of her daughter's sentencing to 35 years in prison, Suzanne found herself in a state of disbelief and isolation, struggling to make sense of the chaos that had engulfed her life.
During this tumultuous period, Suzanne began volunteering at the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, where her daughter was incarcerated. She started a program called "Tales for the Rising Moon," which allowed inmates to record bedtime stories for their children. This initiative and her work in providing scholarships to deserving inmates marked a significant shift in Suzanne's life.
More profound than her external actions was Suzanne's internal transformation. Through her journey, she discovered a deeper spiritual mission, moving beyond superficial acts of public service to genuinely connecting with the women she encountered in the prison. This transformation was about doing good works and living a life filled with meaning and spiritual depth.
Suzanne's story is a compelling example of the life-changing impact of being opened. By opening herself to the pain and challenges she faced, she found a new purpose and a deeper connection with God and others.
What areas of your life need to be opened today? Consider ways to cultivate openness in your life.
- Challenge your existing beliefs by seeking to understand viewpoints different from your own.
- Embrace diversity by welcoming people from various backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles, recognizing that everyone has unique gifts and perspectives to offer.
- Step out of your comfort zone by trying new activities, hobbies, or experiences, whether tasting a new cuisine or traveling to a new country.
- Allow yourself to be flexible and adaptable in the face of life's uncertainties, embracing change as an opportunity for growth rather than a setback.
- Cultivate a mindset of lifelong learning by reading books, attending workshops, or taking classes to expand your knowledge and skills.
- Share your struggles and fears with trusted friends or mentors. Vulnerability can foster deeper connections and allow others to support you in your journey.
- Spend time in prayer and contemplation, asking God to reveal God's will for your life. Be attentive to the nudges of the Holy Spirit as you navigate your daily decisions.
- Strive to understand and believe that God loves, welcomes, receives, accepts, works with, anoints, and blesses ALL people.
When we embrace openness in our lives, that's when we truly start to grow spiritually. As Rev. Sue puts it: "For each of us, growth and development require an openness to being challenged and changed, to be open to other people, issues, gifts, opportunities, and new versions of ourselves, the church, and the world. If this process was a bit disturbing for Jesus, how much more so it is for us! Yes, growth can be experienced as an attraction to new and wonderful opportunities and ideas, but it is also often experienced as a giving up or letting go of old "self-evident truths" or assumptions! This is how the seed of the kingdom takes root within and grows in wild and inconvenient ways until we do not show partiality to those who are like us or successful in worldly ways over those who are apparently poor and of little account."
As you reflect on these ways to be opened, consider how you can incorporate them into your daily life. Ask the Holy Spirit to open you—to God's voice, to the needs around you, and to new possibilities. As you open yourself, you'll find God's kingdom growing within and through you in beautiful, unexpected ways.
Pray with me: Lord Jesus, speak your "Ephphatha" over me today. Open my ears to hear you, my eyes to see as you see, my heart to love as you love. Make me available and responsive to your Spirit's leading. Amen.
Written by Rev. Kay Dubuisson
Posted in Mid-Week Devotional
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