“The quickest way to reach the sun and the light of day is not to run west, chasing after the setting sun, but to head east, plunging into the darkness until coming into the sunrise.”

A Grace Disguised, Gerald Sittser

The Spaciousness of Reconciliation

The Spaciousness of Reconciliation

• What it is• What it looks like• What it’s not• And what it can look like in your

life

Yashá

I. What it isThe Hebrew verb meaning “to make

roomy, wide, sufficient, spacious; to help, deliver, rescue, or save.”

From that verb comes the noun yeshua, which means “salvation.” The word which the Greeks transliterated, Yesous .

Psalm 31 1 In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. 2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. 3 You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead me and guide me, 4 take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge. . . . you have set my feet in a broad place.”

II. How do you find it?

• Elijah (I Kings 19:3-18)

Yashá

• Take care of your physical and emotional being.

• There is God’s companionship, and there are messages in times of silence if you can stand being quiet, and if you’ll listen.

• You’re not alone. Faithful allies are all around.

God’s message of yashá to Elijah:

II. How do you find it?

• Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)

Yashá

• The welcoming spaciousness and reconciliation of yashá is available right here, right now—in this moment, and in this moment, and in this moment.

• And yashá will change your behavior via relationship.

God’s message of yashá to Zacchaeus:

III. What it’s not

Matt. 7:13-14 “Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life--to God!-is vigorous and requires total attention.”

Yashá

• She who knows not, and knows not that she knows not is a fool.Shun her.

• She who knows not and knows that she knows not is a disciple.Teach her.

• She who knows and knows not that she knows is a sleeper.Wake her.

• She who knows and knows that she knows is a leader.Follow her.

Persian Proverb

IV. What it can look like in your life

Yashá

Genesis 1:1-5 NRSVIn the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2the earth was a formless void and darkness covered

the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.

3 Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good; and God separated

the light from the darkness. 5God called the light Day, and the darkness he

called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Yashá doesn’t mean gaining control over chaos and unpredictability, it is . . .

• Choosing to be aware rather that checked out,

• to quietly expect further relationship, meaning, joy, and

• the freedom to make our lives as we will. Knowing we will all die. Knowing that meaning is not automatic.