Earthquake Experiences
At 5:04 p.m. local time on October 17, 1989, a massive earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay area. Ten days later, on October 27 and October 28, the Very Rev. Alan Jones, Dean of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, was scheduled to lead a “Guided Spiritual Meditation” at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Beaumont, where I was the Rector. I thought for sure he would have to cancel his time with us.
Dean Jones didn’t cancel. He came anyhow, and he spoke of “Earthquake Experiences;” not just in San Francisco or wherever, but earthquakes occur in our own lives: events that happen to us that bring us to our knees. For instance, the death of a spouse, a sudden illness, or loss of a job. Dean Jones spoke of a “four-fold pattern.” There is struggle, there is wounding, there is naming, there is blessing.
I turn your attention to Jacob, crossing the River Jabbok. “Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’” But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go until you bless me.’ So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’ Then the man said, ‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.’…The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.” (Genesis 32:24-28, 31)
Struggle, Wounding, Naming and Blessing; it’s all there in Jacob’s story. The story of Jacob is a perfect example of what Dean Jones was talking about. This four-fold pattern appears all through Scripture. That’s why we read the Bible. The patterns in the Bible are the patterns imprinted on the human heart. Think about Jesus in light of this pattern and all that He has to say to us in our own personal struggle, wounding, naming and blessing.
Do you want to be healed of any hurt you are carrying around, any wounding in your life? Imagine Jesus placing His hand on your head and saying, ‘You are healed, you are free, you are loved. Rest in the presence of Jesus.’ Amen.
