Starter Prayer: "Healing God, give me the courage to move forward, and help me to see that my deepest sin might be my unwillingness to keep growing." (From Wondrous Encounters by Richard Rohr)
Pete Steinke, pastor, writer and founder of "Healthy Congregations" says that we are always free to choose not to learn from our past. Another of my mentors said "you cannot change God's will, but you are completely free to ignore it!"
And in today's reading (John 5:1-16) it is clear that Jesus would reach out to heal others completely, AND that he invites their consent that he do so.
It is difficult to understand that a sane person would choose not to be healed from sickness, infirmity and paralysis. In many ways, physical healing is much more sustainable than mental, emotional or spiritual healing.
Healing almost always sets a person on a path that is inherently different from the past. To continue the process that begins with healing may require application of new ways of thinking and new priorities. When God sets new life before us the invitation to grow is placed within our hearts.
Then the ball is in our court. Just as an invitation to a social event often ends with "rsvp", God's invitation to wholeness and healing asks that we respond in some way.
Read the starter prayer again.
Sit with it. Where, and how are you unwilling to grow? Are there patterns and preferences in your life where you are content to be immovable? If you are not leaning towards growth, is it possible that life's pace and pressure may result in regression? Can the first indicators of healing be undermined by ignoring God's invitation for your response?
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