Wandering Heart: Easter Morning

Easter Morning

I cannot stay away on Easter Morning.

Like Peter,

I would run if I could.

Stop the car,

pump my arms,

take the church steps two at a time,

all to know—

Did it happen?

Did it really happen?

Is evil no match for love?

I’d slide down the center aisle.

I’d grab the mic to ask

the angels,

the heavens,

the children,

Were the stories true?

And in response, the choir would sing, “Alleluia.”

The children would flower the cross.

The preacher would tell me the stone was rolled away.

The people would pass the peace,

and welcome strangers,

and make room in the pews.

And with faith over doubt,

I would hope.

For I imagine that all of that ordinary holiness

would be enough for Peter,

and it would be enough for me.

Poem by Rev. Sarah Speed

reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Wandering Heart: Easter Sunday: "And I Hope"

Read Luke 24:1-12

From the Artist | Hannah Garrity

“But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened” (Luke 24:12).

Painted in ink on paper, Peter’s expression here is inquisitive with a touch of concern. He’s tired, but hopeful. He has just gotten amazing news. Joanna, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James relayed the message and Peter dared to believe it. The prophecy is coming true.

So many of the things that Jesus foretold have happened over the last few days. The most heavy on Peter’s heart are his repeated denials. Fear took over.

In contrast, now hope and joy begin to bubble up inside. He will see Jesus again! Jesus has overcome death! The prophecies have been fulfilled! Truly, God is in this place.

As I was imagining my pieces for this series, I immediately saw the emotions of the human experience reflected in Peter’s story. In order to share the energy and perspective of each emotion, I chose to brush ink on paper. On this Easter Sunday, Peter’s face peers through the sketched frame holding both a full expression and tension. Intentionally loose, the brush strokes suggest a face in motion—a glance, the beginnings of joy written in the depths of the eye, the twitch of a smile.

Jesus is risen! Peter is here for it!

Wandering Heart: Good Friday: From the Artist

Read John 18:12-18; 19-27

From the Artist | Rev. T. Denise Anderson

I love portraiture and textiles, but until now, I’ve never married those two things. At the time of this piece’s creation, I’d been doing a lot of sewing, particularly of stoles and vestments. When it came to choosing a medium for this collaboration, fabric would not let me go! It makes sense that, as we consider the interweaving of Peter’s own story with that of the crucifixion, the medium for this piece would itself be woven. What must Peter have felt in those fateful moments of betrayal?

Here, I try to capture Peter’s initial paralysis when he’s first asked if he’s one of Jesus’ disciples. When Jesus was arrested, Peter had only begun to see the full extent of the empire’s cruelty. “Would they do to me what they’ve done to him?” he must have asked himself. Maybe he could be so zealous for Jesus in the past because it was all an abstraction. Now, things have gotten frighteningly real.

From there, Peter descends into more fear—the kind that does not help us to be our best selves. I depict him going from stunned to defensive and then to belligerent, navigating the full spectrum of the fight, flight, or freeze responses to a perceived threat. By the time the cock crows as Jesus predicted (see if you can make out the bird’s faint silhouette in the lower right-hand corner), Peter probably no longer recognizes himself. He must feel deflated and ashamed. At the end of his descent he is different, so I depict him differently from his three prior denials. He has much less fire in his countenance and can’t even open his eyes to face what he’s done.

The flames recall the fire where Peter warmed himself, but they also represent purification and illumination. Peter is forced to see himself as he truly is—as Jesus had already shown him. Who will he choose to be after this? When we are confronted with who we truly are, who will we choose to be after that confrontation? As we look at Peter’s journey, it’s my prayer that we will consider and meditate on our own.

reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Give Us Barabbas!

At that time, they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So, after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”  Matthew 27:16-17 (New Oxford Bible)

How many times during holy week have you heard the story of the trial of Jesus and wondered why Barabbas is in this story? Who in the world is he, and what did he have to do with Jesus’ trial? This has puzzled me for a long time. 

In Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s “Book of Mysteries,” I read a message called, “The Identical.’ It was about Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). In ancient times, the ritual was that the high priest would stand before the people with two perfect and identical goats. (See Leviticus 16:6-11) Then he would draw out two lots from an urn. One lot was placed on each goat’s head identifying one as the sacrifice and one as the scapegoat who would be let go.

What does this have to do with the trial of Jesus? In the eyes of the people, the two Jesus’ were identical. Jesus Barabbas name means “Son of the Father.” Jesus the Messiah was the “Son of God the Father.” 

The custom of allowing one prisoner to go free at Passover time came from the ancient custom of the Day of Atonement. Jesus Barabbas is guilty of the charges Jesus the Messiah is accused of - sedition, insurrection, and treason; but Jesus the Messiah is innocent. The people cry out for Barabbas. Barabbas becomes the scapegoat and goes free. Jesus the Messiah takes on the guilt and becomes the sacrifice with no penalty left for Jesus Barabbas. 

If Jesus were to die for our sin, he would have to become like us – flesh and blood – our identical. 

Jesus took on our guilt, so no penalty is left for us. He died to save us from our sin. He is our salvation. We are set free.

Halleluiah! Praise the Lord!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You and we love You, but so often we do not understand You. We are so grateful for Your plan of our salvation and the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus the Christ, who was born of flesh and blood and became our identical.  He died on the cross to save us from our sin. We are set free from our guilt. Please forgive us.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Judy Welch

Wandering Heart: With My Outside Voice

With My Outside Voice

We’ve been taught

to wait our turn,

to ask politely—

we do not want to appear greedy.

We’ve been taught:

just a pinch of salt,

just a dash of sugar,

nothing in excess.

We’ve been taught:

raise your hand,

keep your voice down,

no talking in church.

We’ve been taught to

never make a scene,

but I simply cannot abide.

I am one part questions,

two parts hunger.

I am a million prayers

and deep hope

wrapped up in one.

I am famished and hopeful,

eager and humbled.

I am using my outdoor voice inside.

I am saying,

Not just my feet,

but my head and my hands!

I want to go where you go.

Poem by Rev. Sarah Speed

Wandering Heart: "Streams of Mercy": Commentary

Read John 13:1-20

Commentary | Dr. Karoline M. Lewis

On Jesus’ last night with his disciples, the foot washing takes center stage. While the disciples and Jesus share a meal, in John's Gospel it is not the Passover meal and there is no institution of the Lord’s Supper. John shifts the chronology of Jesus’ death so that Jesus is crucified on the Day of Preparation for Passover at the same time the Passover lambs would have been slaughtered, to which John the Baptist has already testified, “Here is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) In the foot washing, Jesus shows his disciples once again his abundant love for them. Peter’s question is more than apt: “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” After all, Jesus has just had his feet anointed with abundant perfume by Mary. We should be washing Jesus’ feet! And yet, could it be that because Jesus has been extravagantly loved by Mary that he can now wash the feet of Peter, the one who will deny him, and Judas, the one who will betray him? It is from being loved himself that Jesus says to his disciples, “you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).

While the foot washing is an act of serving one another, it is also an expression of love that sustains and encourages the disciples when Judas abandons both them and Jesus (John 13:30), when Peter’s denial is foretold (13:36-38), and when hearing Jesus’ words of farewell in the following four chapters (John 14-17). No wonder the disciples’ hearts will be troubled (John 14:1), but in the foot washing, love and mercy have been poured out. They will need to hold on to this abundant love fiercely when they watch Jesus be arrested, tried, and crucified. Thinking about all of this, Peter’s question sounds more like a plea: “Lord, please wash my feet.” Because how can Jesus wash the feet of those who would betray him and those who would deny him? And how can we love one another as Jesus loves (John 13:31-35)? By having already been so lavishly and mercifully loved.

Reflect: When have you been lavishly and mercifully loved? How did that expression of love sustain you?

reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Wandering Heart: "Streams of Mercy" Maundy Thursday

Read John 13:1-20

From the Artist | Rev. Nicolette Peñaranda

Within the overall composition of this piece, we see the West African symbol,* Aban, which means fortress and demonstrates power and authority. Aban** is the central image of Golden Hour and it is duplicated around the perimeter of the piece like a mighty fortress. The gold-plated vessel at the top represents the water Jesus uses to wash the disciples’ feet. Around it are miniature Mpuannum,*** the five tufts of hair. The water drips directly down onto swollen feet, feet that bear no name. The section to the left of the vessel holds a tearful Peter. He refuses Jesus’ hospitality and then backtracks when he learns the value of merciful water.

Across from the image of Peter we see the Eucharist. When orienting this piece in a diamond formation, the cup looks overflowing. But when the canvas is sitting as a square, the wine is tipping out of the chalice, dripping in unison with the vessel onto the Aban. The Eucharist is also one of the ways we receive Christ’s mercy. Body and blood broken for us. The vessel of water is providing mercy. The swollen feet are receiving mercy. Peter is asking for mercy. The chalice has shed mercy.

There is a particular time of day we refer to as the “golden hour.” This is when photographers love to take photos as the sun sits at a particular point, either after sunrise or before sunset, when daylight is redder and softer than when the sun is higher in the sky. When I reflect on the entire Passion story, this might just be the golden hour for the disciples. Jesus and his crew are tucked away, having their Passover meal. They are cleansing themselves and carrying on not realizing this will be the last moment of peace they will have. Sharing a meal with the people you love is one of the most glorious moments anyone could have—before what will end as a night of torture and betrayal. While Peter is tearful in this image, the overall vibe of Golden Hour is soft, rich. It feels like it is captured in marble as if nothing can destroy it.

*Adinkra symbols originated from the Gyaman people of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Learn more about their meanings and significance here: adinkrasymbols.org

** View the symbol and learn more about it here: adinkrasymbols.org/symbols/aban/

*** View the symbol and learn more about it here: adinkrasymbols.org/symbols/mpuannum/

reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Wandering Heart: "Songs of loudest praise": From the Artist

Read John 12:12-16

From the Artist | Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity

In the Matthew, Mark, and Luke versions of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, two unnamed disciples follow Jesus’ orders to retrieve a colt. In these accounts, the disciples actively participate in the parade, laying down their cloaks and singing praise. In contrast, John’s version of this story provides minimal details and the disciples are hardly mentioned at all. However, the text does a unique thing: it breaks the fourth wall to tell us something important:

“His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered” (John 12:16).

Is Peter at the parade? Does he lay down his cloak and follow the others? Does he sing songs of loudest praise? Or is he lost in the cacophony of the crowds, confused by and afraid of what is taking place? Maybe he is thinking about the blur of events in the days just before: Lazarus raised from the dead, Jesus anointed in Bethany, the crowds knocking down their doors, the plot to kill Jesus and Lazarus swelling like a darkened, fast-approaching sky.

They didn’t understand at first, but then they remembered.

This image attempts to visualize these two locations in time and space. On the left, Peter looks out from the palm procession—his eyes glazed over as he watches Jesus riding into the city where he will surely meet his death. As the crowds sing “hosanna!” for a new, soon-to-be-killed-king, the dissonance of the scene causes Peter to tremble—like a guitar string snapped suddenly mid-tune.

In the top right is Peter’s mirror image. In this mirage, we glimpse the future. Peter stands aghast at the empty tomb, waves of hope and relief rushing through him like a river of grace, the remembering happening all at once—like a childhood song plucked from memory, like the refrain of a chorus that won’t let you go: it’s true, it’s true, thank God it’s true.

reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Wandering Heart: "Songs of loudest praise": Commentary

Read John 12:12-16

Commentary | Dr. Karoline M. Lewis

All four of the gospels record Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, with John’s version being the shortest. John leaves out Jesus’ instructions for his disciples to get a colt and bring it to him. Instead, Jesus finds his own donkey to fulfill the scriptures. Then the story reports, “His disciples did not understand these things at first” (John 12:16a). I imagine myself in the crowd feeling the same. I can picture the disciples in the crowd waving their palm branches, looking at each other and wondering, Is there something these people see that we don’t? What are we missing here?

Misunderstanding is a common theme in John, and rightly so. We are not supposed to comprehend that God, the great “I AM,” came to dwell with us in the flesh of a human body. And at this point in the story, it is not possible to grasp what Jesus’ kingship is all about. Yet to come will be his arrest, trial, crucifixion, resurrection, and the promise of his ascension. The fullness of grace upon grace will only be realized once Jesus returns to the Father to prepare a dwelling place for us (John 14:2). No wonder the disciples could not understand as they watched Jesus ride by. I am not sure we would either.

“Then they remembered” (John 12:16b). Isn’t that often how things work in life and in faith? As the saying goes, “hindsight is twenty-twenty.” But John is not exactly clear as to what the disciples actually remembered. There is a kind of suspension of normal time on this Palm/Passion Sunday. We are looking forward to the events of Holy Week, yet we also know how the story ends, viewing all that happened through a resurrection lens.

“Then they remembered” is the Palm/Passion Sunday invitation to us. Like Peter and the disciples in the crowd waving their branches, we are also witnesses to the meaning of Jesus’ ministry and his kingship. What will we remember about this day and about the week to come? Will our “hosannas” still ring out by Good Friday, or will the hard truths of the events we will witness silence our praise?

Reflect: When have you realized or remembered something in hindsight? What became clear in retrospect?

reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Wandering Heart: Preparing for Palm Sunday: "Songs of loudest praise"

Courage

We summon every ounce of courage.

We give ourselves pep talks

and we call our friends.

We dig deep within.

We practice the words out loud,

rolling them around in our mouths,

imagining the response.

We deal out every “what if” card our brain holds on to

and spend absurd amounts of time

imagining all the ways it could go wrong.

And then finally, blessedly, we say it:

I love you.

To speak the truth of your heart takes courage.

It always has.

But please,

summon your courage,

join the parade,

and speak with conviction.

For God has been saying to the world since day one:

I love you.

What is your response?

Poem by Rev. Sarah Speed

reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Easter Symbols

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5-7

Easter is coming soon! Stores are filled with jellybeans, peanut butter eggs, and chocolate crosses. Little girls choose new shoes, small boys wear crisp new jeans (with or without holes), and water balloons and giant bubble blowers are squeezed into superhero and unicorn themed baskets. All these things direct our attention to the Messiah who “ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God.” Or do they?

How did the modern symbols of Easter evolve from the Biblical scenes involving stones being rolled from caves, disciples touching the Savior’s hands to witness the scars of crucifixion, and the desperate pleas of Jesus’ female believers searching for their Messiah’s body? When Jesus was tried and executed, the great wind and storm that signaled his death on the cross was a momentous message from God; the prophecy has been fulfilled. The human portion of Jesus’ life has ended. As the words of the powerful gospel hymn say, “The strife is o’er, the battle done. The victory of life is won. The song of triumph has begun. Alleluia!” The Savior came to Earth in the form of a human, and he left this human life in pain and agony. Behind him, he left three arduous years of recruiting, teaching, and proselytizing that laid the foundation for the spread of God’s word.

For many centuries, Nordic and Germanic families celebrated the arrival of spring as a new life. Rabbits were used on gravestones to symbolize birth and rapid regrowth. Just as the grass pops to life and turns green, rabbits spread across the fields and new baby bunnies appear. After the long dark winters of northern Europe, the rabbits cheerfully become active and reproduce quickly. Celebrating the return of bunnies to the meadows reminded these nature loving people to find hope of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

Nothing in the Bible refers directly to new clothes, jellybeans, or candy crosses, but as the ages have passed since the original crucifixion of Jesus, believers have found ways to recreate and represent the symbolic rebirth epitomized by Jesus’ resurrection. Turning in our old appearance for a new, spiffier style and celebrating the good news of the Messiah’s rebirth with candy treats, egg hunts, and early morning worship is our modern way of recreating the joy experienced by the witnesses to Jesus’ return from death. So go ahead, enjoy your new clothes, and treats with an understanding that they are symbolic of Christ dying for your sins and ascending into Heaven.

Prayer: As we approach the holy day when you resurrected your son to sit with you in Heaven, help us to be mindful of the ultimate gift you gave us. We will celebrate Easter with all the finery and treats that represent the promise of a human messiah that you fulfilled. We take comfort in another of your promises that our sins will be forgiven at the end of our lives, and we will be invited to dwell eternally with you in heaven. Amen 

Carol McClain (who still feels it’s somewhat sacrilegious to eat a chocolate cross)

Wandering Heart: "Teach Me": From the Artist

Read Matthew 18:15-22

From the Artist | Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman

When I’m creating a mandala inspired by a text, I’m able to zoom out and see the bigger picture, and the image itself ends up looking like a bird’s eye view, which I think is a helpful perspective sometimes. In this mandala, I wanted to follow a person through the process of reproval, forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration as Jesus describes in Matthew 18. In the center, a person is standing alone, isolated, with their arms crossed in a closed-off posture. If you’re sinned against, Jesus says to go and “point out the fault when the two of you are alone” (Matthew 18:15). When you move to the second ring of the mandala, there are pairs of people shaking hands and finding common ground—or at least attempting to. If this doesn’t work, then you are to bring more people (one or two more) together to provide counsel and witness. In the third ring of the mandala, two people are engaging with the closed-off person, sharing a way forward. In the next ring hyacinth flowers—which represent sorrow, regret, and forgiveness—stretch, bloom, and grow, bringing beauty into the now open arms of the people in the last ring of the mandala, who are embraced and woven into the community. The person from the center goes from being alone and closed-off to embraced and open.

When I was drawing the figures from the center out, it began to look like a dance. Is this the picture that grace paints? Forgiveness cannot happen in isolation and certainly neither can reconciliation nor restoration. The movement toward wholeness is the movement toward one another.

Perhaps craving more tangibility and practicality, Peter asks how many times he should forgive someone who has wronged him, and Jesus says, “Not seven times, but I tell you, seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22). This piece contains seventy-seven people and flowers to represent the abundance of grace that Jesus calls us into. The gold represents the divine presence of empathy, compassion, grace, and love throughout this dance from isolation toward community, from brokenness toward wholeness, and from guilt and shame toward freedom.

reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art 

Wandering Heart: "Teach Me": Poem

Teach me

Teach me about the ways of the wind,

about the ways of the world,

about the ways of the heart.

Teach me about the soft crook of my lover’s arm,

and the way two souls can hold each other close.

Teach me about forgiveness, about the language

of I’m sorry

and the softness of sincerity.

Teach me about abundance, about

seventy-times-seven

and all the days of my life.

Teach me about joy, about its contagious weaving

and its soul-healing.

Teach me about mercy, about open hands and

deep breaths.

Teach me about the dawn of time and the stars

in the sky.

Teach me what matters most.

Teach me what is mine to do.

Teach this achingly curious heart

until I run out of questions

or I run out of days.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

and I will have a life well-lived.

Poem by Rev. Sarah Speed

reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Wandering Heart: "Teach Me": Commentary

Read Matthew 18:15-22 | Psalm 119:9-16

Commentary | Dr. Terence Lester

One day, Pastor Wesley came to our office. He told us that a church in Madison, Georgia, wanted to donate a 30-passenger bus to Love Beyond Walls. His church had declined it, but he asked if we could use it. For some reason, I said yes. Within a few days, the church generously donated the bus to us.

Then, with the blessing of my family and our Board, I decided to live in a tent on top of the bus for 30 days during the freezing winter. I wanted to raise awareness about this bus and to transform it into Atlanta’s first mobile makeover unit. I wanted to highlight the fact that the people we serve lack basic amenities like running water and grooming services. I told myself, “This work is too important to let the flame die out.” Word spread, and many showed up to help us transform the bus.

We reached out to local barbering schools and met Jamil, who was 27 and had just earned his license. He volunteered at Love Beyond Walls almost every week. One day, I asked him why he volunteered. Jamil replied, “My dad is unhoused and I haven’t seen him since I graduated 10 years ago. I don’t know where he is, and I’m just hoping that one day I’ll run into him.”

Jamil ended up giving his father a makeover on the streets. His dad had no idea that his son had become a barber, but it became a turning point for him. He entered a program, graduated from it, found work as a chef, and now has his own apartment. Forgiveness happened through an act of faith on Jamil’s part. His father wasn’t there for 10 years, but Jamil’s desire to repair the relationship remained strong.

In Matthew 18:15-22, Jesus teaches about community and repair. Peter, eager to learn, asks him a follow-up question. Jesus gives an expansive answer, emphasizing the abundance of forgiveness. This story shows the importance of asking questions and expanding our faith, especially when we’re comfortable not having all the answers and we’re open to seeing the world in more nuanced ways.

Jesus’ response to Peter’s question about forgiveness highlights the ambiguous math of grace. Peter learns about abundant grace.

It’s about letting go of rigid limits and embracing the limitless possibilities of forgiveness and repair. Just as in Jamil’s story, where one act of faith led to forgiveness and transformation, Jesus’ teachings remind us of the power of forgiveness to make the community whole. 

Peter’s encounter with Jesus serves as a poignant reminder of the profound lessons embedded in forgiveness. Forgiveness is a boundless wellspring of grace. Repair is vital, both within ourselves and in our relationships with others. This story encourages us to embrace the transformative power of forgiveness and work toward reconciliation and healing. It inspires us to open ourselves to the expansive grace of God. By doing so, we can create a world where forgiveness mends what is broken, and where the beauty of repair shines through, illuminating our shared humanity.

Reflect: Who in your life needs forgiveness? Is there anything you need to forgive yourself for?

reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Are You Walking in the Faith?

And this is another parable that He put before them: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field.  As a seed, the mustard seed, is smaller than any other; but when it has grown it is bigger than any other garden plant; it becomes a tree, big enough for the birds to come and roost among its branches. Matthew 13:31-32 NEB

You’re probably wondering what in the world the parable of the mustard seed has to do with walking.  Well, because its Lent I’ve been thinking a lot about Jesus, and how He taught us about God’s Kingdom through the parables. “The Mustard Seed,” is my favorite parable and I was discussing it with a friend from bible study.

Often while reading a parable, I do some extra reading in an endeavor to better understand its meaning or perhaps discover a hidden meaning.   I’ve learned that people in different “walks” of life tell us different things about what the parables might mean. 

For example, regarding the parable of the mustard seed, bible scholars tell us that Jesus probably wasn’t talking about the yellow mustard seed, those little round yellow seeds we see floating in the brine of bread and butter pickles. It is the opinion of these scholars that Jesus was talking about the black mustard seed.

Botanists tell us that the black mustard seed’s botanical name is brassica nigra, and it is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family. You probably know these vegetables as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. They are called cruciferous because the flowers on these plants only have 4 petals each and are shaped like a cross. Cross-shaped is the definition of the word cruciferous.    

People in the medical field tell us that we have 4 cruciate (cross-shaped) ligaments in our knees. We are the most familiar with the term ACL (because we so often hear of it as being involved in football injuries). ACL means anterior cruciate ligament. The other cruciate ligaments in our knees are posterior, medial and collateral. (Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary) 

To me, all of this means that God has marked each of us with the emblem of Christianity. With the signs of the cross in our knees, he has claimed us as His own even before we are born.  Perhaps this also means that with each step we take we are “walking in the faith” towards Him.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You for all the miracles You work in our lives. We confess that often we don’t even see them. Help us, we pray, to walk towards You with each step we take that we might be more like Jesus every day. We ask it in His name. Amen 

Judy Welch   

Wandering Heart: "I'm fixed upon it": Commentary

Read Matthew 16:21-23 | Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

Commentary | Dr. Terence Lester

It was one of the toughest nights in my life. I had just received the “Humanitarian of the Year” award from the National Urban League of Greater Atlanta for the work we do with Love Beyond Walls. The evening had ended around 11 p.m. after a celebration with friends. As we left, I casually said, “I’ll talk to you later. Be safe!” Little did I know how ironic those words would soon become. My wife Cecilia drove, and I went to sleep. Ten minutes later, I was jolted upright by Cecilia’s screams. We had narrowly escaped a car accident.

The car in front of us had come to an abrupt stop. The driver had become distracted by a child vomiting in the back seat and hit the brakes. Airbags deployed, and then I was on the ground. The impact of the airbag had driven me back into my seat and broken it. Moments later, the EMTs arrived and rushed me to hospital. The pain was indescribable. I discovered that my right hip and pelvis were fractured, and I suffered nerve damage. Emergency surgery followed to place a ten-pound rod in my leg to prevent it from crushing a vital artery.

It was a whirlwind of events. I had gone to receive an award and I ended up in hospital. Previously, I had found worth in my work and believed that God was with me. That belief came crashing down in a single, devastating moment that left me grappling with my faith. Have you ever experienced something like this, where life shatters and makes you question everything? We, too, can encounter upheaval and crisis, and our hearts may wander as we seek answers and meaning.

As I reflect on my journey, I’m reminded of a pivotal moment for Peter. Peter has just declared that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God—a mountaintop experience of unwavering faith. Yet, he immediately faces a reality that challenges his understanding of Jesus and faith itself. Jesus reveals the difficult path ahead—suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection. It seems incongruent with Peter’s vision of a triumphant Messiah who would establish an earthly kingdom. Peter instinctively seeks to avoid the hardship, grief, and struggle. This leads to a rebuke from Jesus: “Get behind me, Satan!” It’s a sharp reminder that sometimes our well-intentioned desires to protect and preserve can become stumbling blocks to fulfilling our calling.

Peter’s faith journey, like my own, reminds us that faith doesn’t always shield us from hardship. As we reflect on Peter’s journey and the challenges of our own faith, let us remember that unraveling can lead to profound growth. Like Peter, we may have to face inconvenient truths and drop our preconceived notions. Jesus’ response to Peter reminds us of the importance of our commitment to God’s mission, even when it’s difficult. May we learn from Peter and embrace the transformative power of faith.

Sometimes, it is by leaning into grief that we begin the journey of healing in our own lives and in our relationship with God. This is because grief isn't about fixing what has happened as much as it is about learning new ways to navigate the realities that cause us to feel disoriented. Let us set our hearts and minds upon God's grace, trusting that we are always guided by the unwavering love of our Creator, even in the midst of grief and unexpected suffering.

Reflect: When have you faced a hard truth, a reality that was difficult to accept? How did you respond?

Reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Wandering Heart: "I'm fixed upon it": From the Artist

Read Matthew 16:21-23

From the Artist | Hannah Garrity

“God forbid it!” says Peter to Jesus (Matthew 16:22). In this image, Peter beseeches Jesus to avoid the cross, to not let the prophecies become reality.

After ten years in ministry, I work in a church for the first time. In this text, I feel Jesus speaking directly to me: “You are a hindrance to me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things” (Matthew 16:23). This is exactly where frustration surfaces for me in my amazing church job. It is when I have set my eye on human things. I worry about the budget. I worry about the email. I worry about the building. So why am I so focused on human things? And the negative ones, at that?

Because I’m human. Because these things matter. But not if I miss the grandeur of this incredible organization sharing the expansive love of God!

With every brush stroke in this ink painting, the humanity of Peter’s face deepens, his expression clarifies. He cannot let his beloved friend be murdered. He worries about human things. How weighty and legitimate those things feel. Jesus seems free of those human worries. He focuses with confidence on the path ahead, though Peter’s concern causes him to falter.

Perhaps we can each be free of human concerns as well… However, that feels like a pipe dream, and Jesus knows it: “Get behind me, Satan” (Matthew 16:23). He does not blame Peter. Instead, he calls out Satan from within his friend. In doing so, he offers us a much-needed reminder to refocus. Thanks be to God.

Reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

 

Wandering Heart: "I'm fixed upon it": Sing - Read - Write

 

Wandering Heart: "I'm fixed upon it": Open Hands

Open Hands

We are born with the ability

to wrap our fingers around another,

to hold tight to what we know.

Maybe that’s where the instinct comes from—

this clinging,

this sinking,

this holding on.

Maybe that’s why Peter cries, “Never!”

when Jesus must leave.

From the very beginning

we’ve known how to hold tight.

So I pray:

open up my hands.

Uncurl my fingers

one by one.

Loosen the grip

that I hold unyielding.

Remind me that birds must fly

and children must grow

and leaves must fall.

And even though

we are born with the ability

to hold tight,

we can learn how to love

with open hands.

Poem by Rev. Sarah Speed

Reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Connecting

…so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:5

From whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

In a recent issue of Magnolia Journal, the focus was on connection. Specifically, connection with strangers and those whose paths we may cross but perhaps don’t know well. I immediately thought of how I interact (or don’t interact) with people at the grocery store and other stores. I tend to get my items and move along, not really making small talk or interacting at all except for the basics (yes, no, thank you, here’s my payment). While I think it’s unnecessary to berate myself (life is a balance between accepting who we are, and trying new things/hard things), smiling and interacting with those we come into contact with is hardly difficult, at least for most of us.

Additionally, in our Wednesday bible study, a comment was recently made about being “invisible” once we reach a certain age. I agree and have noticed it as well. How can I make that different for someone?

Some of the thoughts in the Magnolia article made me want to try harder:

“…within that space between strangers is where possibility hangs in the air like ripe fruit - and we have the chance to reach for it.”

Further, “we become humans noticing other humans.” Keeping our eyes up, not down, is a way to “find each other on this shared journey”. Sometimes we never know when a chance encounter will lead to something more!

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to notice others with whom I come into contact. Whether it’s just a smile, a conversation started, or noticing someone, we can show your love to others.

Donna Gustafson

Wandering Heart: "Praise the Mount": From the Artist

 

Read Matthew 16:13-20

From the Artist | Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman

I don't know if this was a moment of clarity for Peter, if he was regurgitating the answer he thought Jesus wanted to hear, or if he was trying to convince himself that dropping everything and following this man was worth it, but I imagine this was a breakthrough for Peter.

I wanted to capture this as a moment of seeing and being seen. Jesus sees him as more than Simon, a fisherman and son of Jonah, and renames him Peter, the blessed foundation through which his ministry would take root and continue to grow. Jesus sees Peter through the eyes of God.

Peter sees Jesus as more than a teacher and companion. He sees through the veil of confusion concerning Jesus' identity. He doesn't see him as the reincarnation of a former prophet, or another contemporary baptizer pointing the way. He names Jesus as the "anointed one," the one his people have so desperately longed for. Peter proclaims Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God.

In this image I wanted to create a kaleidoscope of perception, imaging the ways Jesus is perceived in the context of this passage, like light broken down into a myriad of shapes and colors. In the gold rays of light Jesus' form is obscured by the metallic shine of God's glory. In the gray and earth-tone rays he is seen in monochrome. Each of the earth-tone rays holds a pattern on Jesus' clothing which represents a misunderstanding of who Jesus is. Starting on the left, honey, locusts, and baptismal waters misidentify him as John the Baptist. Within the next ray to the right, ravens, an empty chair, rain, and fires from the heavens misidentify him as Elijah. On the right, scales of justice and plants being uprooted and planted misidentify him as Jeremiah.

Through the middle of the image, there is a ray of light where the image comes into full color that holds this moment of clarity where Jesus and Peter truly see one another. In this ray, Peter's clothing holds symbols of his new identity: a rock upon which the Church will be built and keys to the kingdom. Jesus' clothing holds imagery—an oil jar and the light of the sun—representing the way Peter sees him as the Messiah and Son of the living God.

Reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Wandering Heart: "Praise the Mount": Commentary

Read Matthew 16:13-20 | Psalm 19

Commentary | Dr. Terence Lester

Before my journey with Love Beyond Walls, I encountered adversity and hardship. Raised by a single mother, I experienced childhood trauma and homelessness. We struggled to find stability. My formative years included gang involvement, depression, and running away. I was searching for somewhere I belonged, a place free from pain, judgment, and disconnection.

At seventeen, I was isolated and a high-school dropout. Then my life took an unexpected turn. As I left the school I had stopped attending, a man called out to me. An inexplicable force compelled me to approach him. He confirmed that he was unhoused. He asked me if I attended the school, and earnestly delivered words that would change my life forever: “Do not stop going to school, because one day you will be a leader.” He continued, “You don’t want to end up like me—homeless.” It felt as though God was speaking directly to me, assuring me of his presence. It was a profound revelation, a moment of feeling truly seen. This motivated me to overcome my struggles, dedicate my life to the Lord, and serve those experiencing homelessness. It all began with a seed of revelation.

In Matthew 16:13-20, we encounter Peter at a crucial juncture in his relationship with Jesus. He has been found, rescued when sinking, and has now experienced a profound revelation. These pivotal moments lead him to declare who Jesus truly is and the purpose behind his coming.

We too are invited to reflect on where we have encountered God and seen God’s hand at work. As we explore Peter’s confession, we witness the blossoming of a seed that was sown throughout his journey. This confession and recognition of Jesus as the Messiah testifies to the transformative power of faith and God’s constant presence. Themes of professing faith and seeing the divinity of Jesus, as well as unwavering devotion to God, all come to the forefront.

Peter, previously known as Simon, son of Jonah, symbolizes our own spiritual journeys. Just as he experienced moments of wandering, uncertainty, and questioning, we too must navigate the complexities of faith. Yet God is continually sowing seeds of revelation, patiently nurturing our understanding of God’s presence.

Peter’s confession is a reminder that faith is not stagnant but dynamic. It’s a “mountaintop faith” experience, a moment of clarity, when we profess our devotion to God and acknowledge who God is in our lives. It’s a declaration that God is near, guiding us along the path of revelation.

Let us reflect on our own spiritual journeys and consider the seeds of revelation in our lives. They shape our understanding of God and draw us closer to God. Let us echo Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God. May our journeys be marked by the continuous growth of these seeds of revelation, leading to an unwavering devotion to our Heavenly Father. Just as Jesus affirmed Peter’s confession, may we find affirmation in our faith, as God sees the best version of ourselves and continues to plant the seeds of revelation.

Reflect: What “seeds of revelation” has God planted in your life and your life and faith journey?

Reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Wandering Heart: "Praise the Mount": Sing - Read - Write

 

Wandering Heart: "Praise the Mount"

Praise the Mount

I have stayed quiet before.

I have held my tongue

while passing mountains.

I have slipped my hands deep into pockets,

despite the music that invites me to dance.

I have glimpsed a new moon and a new love

and have acted as if it was something other than

a complete, God-given miracle.

But not today.

Not today.

Today I will dance.

Today I will tap my toes all the way to heaven’s gates.

Today I will point out every shade of gold

and periwinkle that we pass.

Today I will talk about my faith like we talk about the

weather—

early and unprompted, comfortable and unashamed.

Today I will tell you that God did such a good job

with freckles, willow trees,

and your entire being.

And I will not be embarrassed by my own conviction.

I will not swallow my praise.

I have stayed quiet before,

but not today.

Today I will sing.

Poem by Rev. Sarah Speed

Reprinted with permission from A Sanctified Art

Generations

 

Because Rebecca had no children, Isaac prayed to the LORD for her. The LORD answered his prayer, and Rebecca became pregnant. She was going to have twins, and before they were born, they struggled against each other in her womb. She said, “Why should something like this happen to me?” So, she went to ask the LORD for an answer.  

The Lord said to her,

                                “Two nations are within you;

                                You will give birth to two rival peoples.

                                One will be stronger than the other.

                                The older will serve the younger.” Genesis 25:21-23

The LORD was able to tell Rebecca about her twins even while they were in the womb. Can the LORD see these little ones so early? Yes, the Bible makes it clear.

I have four grandchildren and two great grandsons because I had my daughter:

• My oldest granddaughter is married to a police detective. When she was just 10 years-old she accompanied me to Sweden with my father to meet our European cousins. They now have twin boys, age 6, living in Kansas City.
• An adopted son just got engaged to a wonderful lady with wedding coming next spring.
• My daughter had me come meet them for the adoption of another son and spend a week in Moscow, Russia, 24 years ago.      
• Then later my second granddaughter was a wonderful surprise.

Because I was 16 and left alone, my family accepted my daughter born in 1961. Had that not happened I would not have had these wonderful people in my life. I love those 6-year-old great grandsons. The two adopted grandsons have added wonderful ladies to our family, and I love them too. They are always at my daughters when she has a family reunion. I would not have gotten to experience Russia, the ballet in the Kremlin, the markets, the Moscow Zoo and much more with my daughter. For my surprise younger granddaughter’s 10-year trip (which we gave to each grandchild), she, her sister, and my daughter accompanied me to Paris. I do believe God knew all this my daughter would give me before she was born just like He knew about Rebecca’s children. He is a mighty God. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for my parents who helped me raise my daughter. Thank you for being with me at times in my life when things weren’t going as expected. Please bless all expectant parents at this time and give them marvelous people around them who love them. Let them know You see their whole lives ahead of them and that you love them too. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck (photo above submitted by Sandra)