Surviving And Thriving In The World

John 17: 11

Roger Lynn

May 17, 2020

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“It was a dark and stormy night.” That is how all of Snoopy’s stories began in the comic strip Peanuts. And these days in which we now find ourselves can sometimes feel like that. Life can be difficult and painful and overwhelming. Indeed, there are times when such an assessment seems to be the norm rather than the exception. The news seems to be full of tragic, heartbreaking, and frustrating stories on a daily basis. And lately it seems like all of those stories are just variations on the same story. In the midst of such times, it can be difficult to know where to turn or what to do, and there is the temptation to focus merely on surviving – leaving the thriving for another day.

When such experiences begin to close in around us, it is helpful to remember that we are not alone and we have not been abandoned. God continues to be on our side. In Jesus’ prayer which we find near the end of John’s Gospel he proclaims the truth that the disciples are now and have always been in God’s care and keeping. It is worth remembering that in the Gospels the disciples always represent us. So Jesus’ prayer speaks directly to our own circumstances. It is significant to note that Jesus asks for two things – God’s protection and unity. “Holy One, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” (John 17:11) It seems to me that in this one statement we find essential keys to help us move beyond merely surviving in the world to thriving. We can remember in whose hands our lives are held, and we can strive to live life in relationship with those around us. Living a life which is free of challenges is not an option, even for people of faith. But when we live lives which are intentionally and intrinsically connected to God and to each other, then we have the resources to face whatever comes. Survival can be achieved in isolation, but to thrive we need to expand our horizons and our connections.

It is important to note that Jesus does not ask God to remove us from the world. Indeed, it is precisely into the world that we are sent as emissaries of the Good News message of God’s all-encompassing and ever-present Love. For good or for ill, the world is where we are called to live. It is not a question of discovering some spiritual escape which releases us from the struggle. Rather, it is a matter of staying connected to the Sacred Source of strength and joy while facing the challenges which come our way in the course of life as flesh and blood human beings living on this planet.

One of the secrets which can help us to experience the joy for which Jesus prayed is remembering the difference between ultimate priorities and important, but secondary, priorities. Our ultimate priority is learning to keep our hearts open to the relationship which God seeks to maintain with us. Everything else in the world can then be organized around that guiding reality. It is within this framework that Jesus distinguishs between being in the world and belonging to the world. We very much belong in the world because we are God’s agents for sharing love and grace. The darker and scarier it gets, the more desperately we are needed. But at the same time, we do not belong to the world. Our core values, the essence of who we are, are not shaped by the cultural circumstances which surround us. As people of faith we can allow our lives to be shaped and molded by the God whose love we seek to proclaim in the world. 

That is what makes it possible to speak of experiencing joy even in the midst of the dark times which can sometimes threaten to overwhelm us. It is not that we are in denial. The painful moments of life really do hurt. But when we can remember the deep and abiding connection which we share with the Ultimate Source of all life and joy, then the pain of any given dark moment is set against a larger perspective. We are a part of something deeper and more enduring than the darkness and the struggle.

Remembering God’s protection and joy is often easier to do in the bright light of day when things are going well. It is more challenging when life has turned cold and dark and difficult. And that, I believe, is why Jesus’ prayer included the desire that we be one. It is often easier to experience God’s presence in our lives when it comes in the form of the person sitting next to us holding our hand, even when then hand holding is experienced only virtually. It is essential that we remember we are not alone. Jesus understood that life includes difficult times, and he knew that it takes all of us together to not only survive but thrive. We become Christ’s presence for each other, so that together we can become Christ’s presence for the world. 

When we find ourselves facing situations which threaten to overwhelm us and it becomes difficult to know where to turn or what to do, may we remember that in our connections with God and with each other we can find the power to do more than merely survive. Together we have the power to thrive. We just have to remember to stay connected.