Healing and Travel
Friday, June 10 Kristina Abbott Healing and Travel
Healing by the Shadows
The Apostles Heal Many
12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
The Bible speaks a lot about light and lack thereof. I’ve always loved this description, maybe because I have felt as though I’ve walked through more shadows and dark experiences than my peers. In every single dark moment of my life, when the shadows of uncertainty loomed above and seemingly beyond my horizon; I was able to still find goodness and grace in the shadows. God’s loving light encapsulates us, every day. The best way I can think to describe this would be … taking off from Juneau on a plane on a rainy day. Dark, gloominess looms above while taxiing on the ground, yet after taking off - up above the clouds is a beautiful blue sky and glorious sunshine. That beautiful sun is always in our sky as it rises in the east and sets in the west. It is always there even though we can see it. Oftentimes, those pesky rainclouds block out the beautiful light above and cast dark shadows below.
To me, the story of the apostles healing many, is a beautiful story illustrating what happens when you persevere through the unknown, overcoming the shadow of uncertainty. I can only imagine how back in those days, seeing miracles and wonders must have been scary to some, very unnatural and unnerving.…yet many became intrigued. I can also imagine many people were intimidated by these marvelous works done in such a grandiose setting such as Solomon’s Colonnade. A big grand structure, fit for crowds from all over the place. Despite the big grand setting, and marvelous works being done -people overcame the shadow, and the result was more and more people believing and following in Christ.
Life involves and incredible amount of risk, we have been given the opportunity of free will to choose, to make decisions as we move and navigate this life we have been given. We also live in a world where many things are beyond our control. God is constantly and continuously at work in a world plagued by shadows. He is at work when we are worried or anxious. He is at work in these uncertain times that we’re living in – a pandemic, wars, crashing stock market and inflation. We cannot see what is coming our way a month from now, tomorrow, or even an hour from now. Our lives are intertwined by shadows of uncertainty. BUT there is goodness and grace in the shadow. Verses 14 and 15 I think highlight that there is goodness and grace even in the uncertainty of life. The verse states that people brought the sick into the streets in hopes that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. I interpret this as though people had heard and some had seen wonderous things done by Peter, they were amazed, probably scared, yet they risked taking a dying family member to find good graces even amidst his shadow.
In current times, I think about the uncertainty of the pandemic that we’ve been living in, and some days it feels as though World War three is looming off in the distance, along with the destruction of our planet due to ongoing climate change – the present and the future seem bleak. Undoubtedly the most challenging times lie ahead, yet through these dark times – many beautiful things shine through the dark and dreadful parts of our current times. People are so creative, innovative, generous and gracious. Love and thoughtfulness have been extended in perhaps unconventional ways. I think of surprising my kids’ great grandmother with banners outside her condo windows in hopes that we could extend thoughtfulness and love in a time when hugs were banished. People wrote cards, called on the phone more, younger folks offered to brave the stores and shop for the elderly or immunocompromised during covid surges. People around the globe found ways to fundraise for a country and people in need of aid during the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time. In these shadows - God was with us and is still with us. He was working during covid outbreaks, wars, civil unrest… and God continues to work. In a lifetime full of uncertainty living in shadows. His love is a constant, just as the grace and goodness that can be found in the shadows.
Reflection Discussion/Questions:
1. How does the idea that Jesus walks through the shadow with us make you feel? How does it make you think differently about what we are going through as a culture and/or what you might be going through personally?
2. What type of shadow did the first believers face as they met in Solomon’s Colonnade? Why is their meeting place significant? What is the significance of Paul’s shadow?
3. What do you think of the idea that “There is goodness and grace in the shadow”? How do we see this in the early church’s activity and how might we see it today?
Ending Prayer