…and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” – Matthew 1:23b
It’s amazing where God can lead when you decide to follow. This involves opening yourself to the many voices God uses to call us. A few months ago, I was invited to go to Colombia, South America, to participate in a peace delegation comprised of faith leaders, political activists, and educators called from across the United States of America. I convinced myself that I was not going to go. I did not speak Spanish and did not have the time. I was too busy.
This was the same excuse I gave a student who asked, “Why don’t you want to go to Colombia?” I said, “I am too busy,” the student said, “You travel all over the US meeting with Indigenous tribes and communities, you are a Lumbee, you know all about overcoming the harsh realities of life… But you don’t have time for the Colombian people? Do they not have anything to tell you?”
Having been put to shame I agreed to go. I heard many hard and difficult truths in Colombia. That is where God calls us. To hear people’s stories, to be with them in solidarity, and to seek peace. Another place I heard God was in the voice of a Black Colombian mother saying to us, “Our children can’t go outside after school. They must come home and get in the house because of the violence we live in every day.”
I heard God in her too! She said to me, “What are you going to do about it?”
Solidarity is at the heart of the gospel message. “The word became flesh and dwelt among us” John 1:1 God is asking us to listen to those who inquire and those who inspire. These are the voices that God hears the most. We should all do the same. I don’t know what I am going to do about the stories I heard, the emotions I felt, and the many conflicts that are too dangerous to ignore. God spoke to me through a terrified mother and a know-it-all student’s voice.
Now he speaks to you. Embrace the difficult moments in life. Make time for God, and you will hear God.
Finally, will you support the $10.00 Dollar Club? Its efforts to create new communities of faith and support congregations? Our United Methodist Church depends on good people like you. Consider supporting this faithful ministry tool.
Rev. Mattheue Locklear serves as the pastor of First UMC in Pembroke, NC
Our theme for this year’s Lenten reflections is Graceful Hospitality. 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the Ten Dollar Club, now known as the New Room Society. We give thanks for our Conference’s ongoing commitment to co-creating new places for new people to gather in communion with Jesus Christ and extending graceful hospitality to all of God’s children.