God in the Chaos

“There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.” Psalm 104:26

Day 76. This morning, for the first time since the stay-at-home order was issued, Erika cut the boys’ hair. It was pretty amusing, and Erika revealed a new hidden talent. The guys look good! Watching her work, I thought about how amazing it is to see order emerge from chaos.

This was a nice diversion from watching the news out of Minnesota (and I am mindful that it is a privilege to be able to have diversions). Chaos and confusion run rampant in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. Protests are spreading throughout the country. The anger is more than justified, but one wonders where it all will lead.

Where do we go from here? On this Eve of Pentecost, we remember that God is not daunted by chaos and confusion. Many creation myths have at their center the vanquishing of chaos, represented by a great sea monster. But the God of Israel did not encounter chaos that needed to be tamed before creation began, because everything was created by God. The psalmist sings of giant Leviathan, not as a threat to God’s rule but as a creature existing for God’s good pleasure.

Make no mistake, the pain and destruction being experience today is no sport. This is deadly serious. But the God of Pentecost is the One who can bend confusion toward peace, injustice toward justice, and death toward life. The events unfolding in our country are not part of God’s plan. Suffering and death are not the tools of the Spirit. But neither are these events beyond redemption. Today we pray that out of chaos comes a new and better peace; not the old standoff that holds in thrall both victim and oppressor, but a new peace in which love and grace reign between all people.

This is not easy work. We have much to do. For me, this starts with me. So as I look to Pentecost, I ask that God’s Spirit would fall upon me once more, enlivening my heart and mind to do the difficult work of reconciliation.

God’s not done with us yet. Come, Holy Spirit!

Be well, friends. You are loved.

Holy Spirit, come! Our sin has caused so much brokenness within creation. We have deeply wounded one another. Forgive us, Lord, and help us do better. May this work begin in each of us, that we may each be part of putting the world back together in a way that more closely resembles your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Image: Torsten’s fresh new ‘do.