The Light Seeps Through

When I was attending the UNCSW last month, I found myself once again in the chapel on a daily basis. The chapel there has a long history of being safe space for people of faith to grapple with the call for justice and equality, as we are faced with some of the nuanced and intersectional challenges of the world.

The chapel is a place of healing; as one would wish for any space that is marked as holy ground. (One could easily argue that all ground is holy, it is our refusal to acknowledge its holiness that creates problems. But that’s for another blog reflection.)

This year, we had one person identify a sense of belonging in the chapel, that they have felt decreasing in their home faith community.
Another found ongoing healing in the courage and encouragement to tell their story, and have it held in trust by those listening.
Someone else revealed deeply rooted hurts, and in sharing that truth felt ongoing healing to be renewed and refreshed. They spoke from scars, not wounds.
One sang of the power of God’s love to transcend earthly challenges and setbacks.
One unknowingly relinquished justified anger towards an abuser.

Undoubtedly, many other healings happened: the chapel is a sacred space.
Healing seeps in; like light through the stained glass window. Amorphous, evolving, uncontrollable, beautiful.
And undeniably holy.
It is a force one hopes that everyone who seeks healing can find; regardless of location or circumstance.

1Jn 1.7 if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us