| January 24, 2009 |
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In vulnerability we can find strength
A FEW weeks ago, I was privileged to be present at the induction of the new bishop for the Methodist Church in the Grahamstown District, the Rev Musi Losaba. As some of us stood praying for him, we celebrated this young man's giftedness and strengths. I also prayed that he would be able to embrace his vulnerability. This is an interesting word from the Latin root “vulnerno” which means “wound”. Graeme Smith as he strode to the crease in an attempt to stop defeat by the Aussies, was vulnerable and because he decided to play through his woundedness he got a standing ovation. It is very difficult to own our vulnerability. In the soapie Isidingo, Frank, hurting from the break up of a long-term relationship, says: “I don‘t do vulnerable.” He speaks for many of us. Yet, if you have experienced, as I have, your car breaking down in the middle of the night on a dangerous road you will do vulnerable whether you like it or not. I have come to see that the acceptance and recognition of our vulnerability, our woundedness, is essential to the formation of any deep relationship with another person and is indispensable if we are looking for authentic spirituality. It is in times of our greatest suffering that we learn most about ourselves and about the Mystery we call God. When we accept our vulnerability we become less arrogant about what we know, and develop a different understanding of what we call answers. Many seekers, when they come closer to God, expect to find the answers to their most pressing questions. This is understandable. The problem comes when their answers are built like bricks into a wall. They then hide behind the wall where they feel strong and invulnerable. Answers are not bricks for a wall but rather doors through which we walk into other questions. If we read the New Testament carefully we will see that Jesus specialised in asking questions, rather than giving answers. In our vulnerability we also begin to know that our search must be done within community. Other people's answers become important to us and we are strengthened by the thought that we are not expected to find all the answers on our own. Let us do “vulnerable”, allowing God to remain the Mystery that God is and when we experience woundedness we will live trusting, within community, that God is with us.
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