God says yes!

This is the third and final posting about the trip to Taize. Any more would stard to feel narcissistic...and blogs are too much like this to begin with!

I digress.

The theme for Bible study during our week was "God says yes." In French: "Dieu dit oui."

Our daily study was led by Brother Benoit, who was, of course, French and had lived at Taize for only a few years. He was young, funny, charming and passionate about the gospel. I liked him instantly, of course.

Brother Benoit quipped that we were going to read the whole Bible in one week. Well, a brief overview, anyway. He began in Genesis on Day 1 and ended Day 6 in Revelation with some pretty heavy editing in between. The theme of "God says yes" wove throughout the week.

It was so life affirming! God says yes to who we are and who we will become. Brother Benoit started with the two creation accounts and shared insights from the Hebrew language. He moved fluidly through the exodus story and into Elijah and God's still small voice. He challenged us to look beyond what God is calling us to do; rather, who is God calling us to be? How is God speaking and what do we hear?

On Day 4, Brother Benoit moved to the New Testament (Jesus arrives on Thursday, he said) and we studied Jesus healing the sick and Jesus washing feet. In Jesus, God says yes to our humanity; the savior is a servant.

The last day featured passages from Revelation. I seem to remember this day best-- because it was the best or because it was the last? Either way, two images stand out.

One: Rev. 3:20 when Jesus stands at the door and knocks. Brother Benoit asked us to notice that Jesus knocks. He will not kick down the door. Brother Benoit illustrated this by climbing up on a bench and doing a mock karate kick. Then he raised his eyebrows and said in a French accent: "Jesus is not a bad guy."

The second: Based on Revelation 21 where God comes to dwell with us, Brother Benoit discussed how God guides us. He said God is like a GPS, which, if you make a wrong turn will not tell you "You are a bad boy!" Rather, the GPS will reconfigure the way and keep giving you directions to get to your destination. Everytime to you take a wrong turn, it will keep giving you options to get you there by the shortest way possible. The GPS will never force you.

I'll close with a portion of "Letter from Kenya" written by Father Alois, the abbot of Taize, from his recent trip to Africa. The letter was also used as a discussion springboard during Bible study small groups.

Father Alois writes: "Yes, God is present in every person, whether they are believers or not. From its very first page, the Bible describes in a beautiful and poetic way the gift that God makes of his breath of life to every human being. So let us consent to what we are or what we are not; let us even take responsibility for all we have not chosen but which makes us who we are. Let us dare to be creative even with what is not perfect. And we will find freedom. Even when overburdened, we will receive our life as a gift and each day as God's today.

Amen!