Embracing Exile: Finding Jesus in Unlikely Places

Because uh from the beginning with the people of Israel when you think about them going into Exile and because they went into Exile things happened to them and in them and through them that bless the world in ways that the world could never have been blessed if they did not go into Exile and somehow all of our stories involve a kind of journey into Exile. [00:01:22]

As I enter into my 50s and was able to realize the unlikelihood of doubling my years, I came face to face with the simple question: did becoming older bring me closer to Jesus? That's a wonderful question. If you're not a person of Faith, you might even just simply think, has growing older brought me closer to becoming the person that I know I most want to be? [00:01:58]

After 25 years of priesthood, Nouwen writes, I found myself praying poorly, living somewhat isolated from other people, and very much preoccupied with burning issues. Everyone said I was really doing well, but something inside me was telling me that my success was putting my own soul in danger. [00:02:26]

I began to ask myself whether my lack of contemplative prayer, my loneliness, my constantly changing involvement in what seemed most urgent were signs that the spirit was gradually becoming suppressed. It was very hard for me to see clearly, and although I never spoke about hell or only jokingly, I woke up one day with the realization that I was living in a very dark place. [00:02:48]

He began to ask God, God if you have another story for me, another Journey for me, another way for me, please let me know. And God did, and it was to leave Harvard. He had spent his life at places like Yale and Notre Dame and Harvard among the brightest and the best and go live in a community among people with very very serious cognitive and physical challenges. [00:03:35]

The world says this is what the world says about your story: when you were young you were dependent, couldn't go where you wanted, but when you grow old you'll be able to make your own decisions, you'll be able to go your own way, you'll be able to control your own destiny. But Jesus has a different vision of maturity. It is the ability and willingness to be led where you would rather not go. [00:04:51]

So that's the question for today: am I willing to put God and not me in charge of my story? Where is God calling me to go today where I would rather not go? And Henry ends up moving into this community of people who are thought to be at the bottom of the functional ladder where he had always lived on the top rung. [00:05:13]

One of the instructions of Jesus that he learned, and this will be part of the journey for you and me in our story today, is how often Jesus would say when he would send his followers out, go together, go two by two, or he would say where two or three of you are gathered together, I'm there in the midst of you. [00:05:38]

I opened by saying I had not come alone but was very happy that Bill had come with me. Then I took my handwritten text and began my address. At that moment I saw that Bill had left his seat, walked up to the podium, and planted himself right behind me. It was clear that he had a much more concrete idea about the meaning of doing it together than I. [00:06:40]

I'm not in charge of my story. I have a role to play. I Am accountable. I get to take initiative, but now today I'm invited to let other people become part of my story and for me to become part of theirs. Each time I finished reading a page, he took it away and put it upside down on a small table close by. [00:07:03]

Here's what you want to remember about your story today: Jesus said wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, in the name of Jesus, and that is in the spirit of Jesus, in the character of Jesus, in the way of Jesus, I'm there. So today anytime you're with another person or two, anytime you're having a conversation or you make a telephone call or you're looking at somebody's face, maybe somebody you know well, maybe someone that you have never seen before and will not see again, remember you have the gift of life this day. [00:09:50]

How can I share my story together with you so that we can do it together and then our stories are enriched because we will be led to the place that we do not want to go and if we embrace that place we will find Jesus there and we will bless somebody else. [00:10:37]