Ann Pierce Arnett, member, St. Luke’s UMC

Center yourself on today’s reflection by lighting a candle and reciting this breath prayer:
Inhale – Hear the cry of your children, Lord
Exhale – come quickly and set us free. 

Acts 9:1-9
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Reflection:
Everyone who knew Saul understood that here was a man committed to the Law and his religion. He lived by the strictest codes of life as a Pharisee. He had been schooled by the great philosophers and teachers of his day and knew the Torah by heart. He cared deeply about his faith, and his life was focused on keeping it pure and strong. Saul had powerful friends, access to the religious leaders in the Sanhedrin, and as a Roman citizen, he had all the rights and privileges that those connections bestowed. He was zealous to the point of “breathing threats and murder!” He had no doubts. 

We know people like Saul. So sure, so committed to what they believe is the only and one right answer—not only for them but for everyone else as well. It’s hard to be friends with someone like that. Actually, truth be told, I’ve been like that. It was subtle, but I grew up thinking that “Our” way was the right way; that “They” weren’t like us. I wasn’t sure exactly why, but somehow “We” knew what was best. Over time that “We” community became very narrow, frustrating, and confusing.

Last year I was swimming laps every day at a small gym. It was good exercise, and I often found it a time of meditation. There were only three lanes at the pool and that was usually enough. When necessary, we would share the lane by swimming along one side. But one afternoon as I was swimming, a fourth woman dove into my lane. She didn’t swim along one side; she swam right down the middle. Every time we met I had to swerve around her. It was so upsetting. I wanted to straighten her out; I wanted to tell her the rules; I wanted to tell her how wrong she was to swim down the middle. I was so upset. Later, I told my friend what had happened and after a thoughtful pause she asked me, “How long did it take for you to swim around her?” I had to admit, “A few seconds.” But I was so sure I was right and she was wrong. I had spent the entire length of the pool and the rest of my laps angry at her. It was not good for me. My friend ended the conversation by saying, “Just keep swimming, Ann, just keep swimming.”  

There it was. The blinding light of love from a friend.  

Saul was so sure he was right. He was persecuting the followers of Jesus and believed they were undermining the right way to live. The way he believed God had directed for his chosen people. But I wonder? Watching Saul persecute all those people, did his companions have their own questions about The Way? Thank goodness Saul still had friends and—Jesus. 

Yes, Jesus still loves him. In spite of his misguided and mistaken violent thoughts and actions—Jesus stands in the middle of the road and loves Saul into a new life. It’s astounding really. And here’s the good news: his friends are with him and care for him and they are all changed.   

In Madeleine L’Engle’s book The Irrational Season, she says “I used to make lists as Lent approached, lists of small things to give up. But then it occurred to me that if what I was giving up was something bad, it should be given up once and for all, and not just for forty days and forty nights.” Conviction! No going back. Everything changed. As Lent approaches this year. I have made a list: to share more; to love more; to look for Jesus in the middle of my lane.    

“Keep swimming, Ann; just keep swimming.”

Prayer: 

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for standing in the middle of the road. Here is my hand; walk with me. Lead me Lord, lead me in your way. Love, Ann. Amen.