There is a well-known tale about a person who was walking along the beach after a storm with thousands of starfish washed up on the shore. They came upon a child who was picking up the starfish one at a time and putting them back into the sea. The person inquired and remarked that with all of the starfish on the shore, the child’s effort was futile; he said “you won’t make much of a difference.” The wise child replied: “I made a difference to that one.”
Over the years I have grown to wrestle a bit with the perspective of helplessness of these starfish. Completely reliant on another beyond themselves, they lie in hope that a powerful someone will muster the grace to lower themselves and save them.
I was chatting about this with a friend over lunch about a month ago, and she shared that everything a starfish needs to survive comes from within. I had no idea that they carry such a remarkable ability to regenerate - they can literally grow back what has been lost or harmed from within itself.
That sounds like resurrection to me.
Today, we are living under societal conditions that seem to amplify the rights and resources that have been stripped from many by our current administration. It is an understandable short leap to honing in on all that has been lost - taking inventory of injustices and their ripples is essential to addressing them. And (not “but”), we must also take great intention to remember where our help comes from. Like a science fiction movie, following Jesus gives us supernatural abilities to replace what has been cut off. His gift of the Holy Spirit is not an external helper, but an internal guide that replenishes what has been stolen: peace, joy, power - so that we are able to be restored in spite of the detrimental circumstances that have been cast upon us.
It is important to note that resurrection is not, nor has ever been, of our individual doing; our participation must be in concert with Jesus. Together as a team, new life happens where it is needed most. But, like any new skill that we tackle, practice and intention are necessary. Believing in restoration ignites our imagination and enables us to rebuild.
While this appears to be simple, cutting out the institutional rhetoric that shouts impossibilities over the holy whispers of resurrection is easier said than done. We must learn to fine tune our spiritual ears to hear God’s promises and feel the Spirit’s supporting presence. Skipping this critical step sets us up for failure and paves the way for death.
As my Mama used to tell me when I was a child: “What you feed your body feeds you”. What we focus on, guides that focus. We construct theologies and frameworks based on our focus, and before we know it, we are either perpetuating life or death.
Caste or community.
Bondage or liberation.
Love or hate.
This month, I invite you to consider what is feeding you and guiding your spiritual lens. Pay attention to how your thoughts and prayers take shape - is it in response to the deficit narratives of the world, or is it in anticipation of the already fulfilled promises of God? Is the half-empty glass reminding you of your shortcomings, or is its half-full counterpart leading you to survey all of the holy tools present and already at work around you? For you? In you?
Romans 8:11 (ESV): "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."