Is There Room Here?
By: Erin Kuns
Our world is full of loudness. Voices of protest and triumph, tears of sorrow and pain. We’ve been told there is “no room for hate here!” There is “no room for lying here!” There is “no room for judgment here!”
All sentiments are commendable, for sure. But where is there “room”? And “room” for what?
A few nights ago, I reconnected with someone that had gone to church with me and my family for years. We kind of fell off each other’s radars as life progressed with kids, jobs, school, etc.
While most reunions are surprising and a happy occasion to exchange pleasantries and then carry on your merry way, this one was different. Of course, we said the usual, “Hi! It’s so great to see you. How are you doing? It’s been a long time.” But then the heartbreak came flooding out: a marriage is broken, deep and difficult mental health battles, the empty-nester feelings… Life had done a number on them over the past several years.
At first, you almost feel like, why are they telling me all this?? This is a lot. All I asked was how they were doing.
[My travels abroad, though limited compared to many people, have taught me something: Americans are pros at an empty social convention. These knee-jerk reactions and expectations of society that we do without really appreciating the gravity of their meaning. “How are you?” might as well be “Excuse me, I need to get through” for your average American. It is self-centered, lacking in compassion, void of all authentic human concern for others.]
All I asked was how they were doing.
Thank the Father above for sending His Holy Spirit to give me a check-up from the neck-up at that moment. It was almost as if the Holy Spirit was using a bullhorn: Erin, exactly!!! HELLO?!?!? You asked how they were doing!!!
As Christians, I think it is safe to say we all generally try to live as Christ and walk in the Spirit. But, conveniently, we tend to forget that to live as Christ is to die to ourselves (Philippians 2:1) AND that if we are truly walking in the Spirit our life will demonstrate the same love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control as Jesus (Galatians 5:22-23).
All I asked was how they were doing.
Those kinds of attitude adjustments by the Holy Spirit are GIFTS, my friends. (And there is no gift receipt for a return or exchange.)
“Pain insists on being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pain. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
– C.S. Lewis
I love this quote from C.S. Lewis. I’ve meditated on it many times throughout my life. One thing I’ve always been unclear about is the shouting in our pain part – and why is it a megaphone?
I think shouting can be used in various ways. Parents shout at their kids to get off that ledge – why?: to protect them. Siblings shout at each other to let them have a turn – why?: because they want/need to be heard and listened to. Drivers shout to one another in traffic – why?: to call attention to a problem.
Have you ever heard someone shout positively? Maybe you’ve witnessed a couple at an airport being reunited after a deployment. Maybe you’ve heard an impassioned sermon. Maybe you’ve heard a child yell “mommy!!” and “daddy!!” when their parents return from a night out on the town.
But shouting in our pain? What is God shouting?
God meets us right where we are in our pain, but He doesn’t just stand there with His hands on His hips, occasionally tapping our shoulder saying, “there, there…” He shouts.
From my personal experience, sometimes He shouts: “I’m protecting you!! Stop dwelling on what might have been.” Sometimes He shouts: “Stop beating yourself up. I LOVE you, you silly goose!!” Sometimes He shouts: “Why don’t you just take a seat and trust me, you dingus?!”
Okay, maybe it’s not that specific for you. My point is that God is shouting the Grace that only comes from Him. And by the Holy Spirit, we get to be participants in that grace. His megaphone is just as much for shouting into our own pain and our own ears as it is a way to rally us to intercede for our hurting brothers and sisters.
“There is room for Grace here.”There will always be room for Grace here.* * *
Let this song be a reminder that His Grace is just as good now as when you first met Him.
There will always be room for Grace here.
And You're still just as good as when I met You
You're still just as kind, don't let me forget that You're
Still, the same God that led me through the fire
You're still the same God who separates the waters
Come do what only You can do
God, I need You
And I will build an altar
And stack it stone by stone
'Cause every Ebenezer says I've never been alone
My faith will surely falter
But that won't change what You've done