God Makes a Way Out of No Way

The enormity of our situation today can be paralyzing. We are not only facing a worldwide Covid-19 health crisis, but also living through the harmful effects of a society that prioritizes the concerns of the wealthy and privileged over the most vulnerable. In short, we face both oppression and plague. People seem to be responding by splitting into four different groups as we face the crisis of this moment:

1. Some are diving into this time of isolation by trying to create sanctuary amidst a world in crisis. Whether creating safe spaces and supportive groups, or by settling in at home.
2. Some are accepting reality and dealing with reality on its own terms--staying alert, gathering information, following the trends and responding accordingly. 
3. Some are out there fighting the necessary battles--whether by working on the front lines or by working to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our families and our communities. 
4. Some are just scared and anxious, probably all of us at times. In moments like these, many of us call out to God. 

These are all appropriate responses. But, I also recently heard a quote by the poet Mary Oliver and it landed well:

“Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.”

I’m a Youth Pastor (a2blue.org) with a tendency to go deep. My young people like funny stories. So, on a much lighter note, my family and I had a small crisis of our own--we thought we were running out of toilet paper. But, thank the Lord! Our bidet just arrived in the mail. (A bidet, “buh-dei,” is basically a water wash instead of using toilet paper.) We like to joke that we’re taking this whole thing, “Day Bidet.”

Bad jokes aside, it is important to take this day by day. Keep moving forward. One day at a time. As African American Womanist, Monica Coleman, says, “God makes a way out of no way.”

At times like this, we need stories. Personal stories, stories from history, mythical stories, and stories from the Bible. Stories teach us, comfort us, and guide us. The Hebrew Bible tells a story about the Israelites who escaped from harsh oppression and ten plagues. The story goes that the people escaped in a great hurry and had little time to prepare for their new normal out in the wilderness. Then, they came up to the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his army hot on their heels. The people went forward. They put their feet into the water. Miraculously, the LORD split the Red Sea, and they were able to walk through safely on dry land. This story, told and retold, gives hope for each and every generation facing the crises of their own times. This miracle gives hope that God will make a way for us.

I also want to dig deeper. Just before the Red Sea split, the people faced a critical moment. They found themselves caught at the sea with oppressive forces closing in. There is an ancient Jewish commentary on the Bible, a Midrash, that teaches that at this very moment, the people split into four factions. The first of the four factions wanted to dive headfirst into the sea. The second group wanted to accept reality and return to Egypt. The third group wanted to wage war against Pharaoh and his army. It says the fourth group cried out to God. But in Exodus 14:15, we read that God said to Moses: “Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the children, that they should go forward!”

The Rabbis taught that we are not to escape reality, not to submit to it, not to wage war, and not to deal with it only on a spiritual level, but to go forth. God-with-us. Day by day. One day at a time. 

I’ve been reading the Sarum Prayer daily. The five lines of this prayer speak to the five different ways that we might be responding to this moment in time. So, let’s end with the Sarum Prayer:

God be in my head, and in my understanding. Let us create holy sanctuary amidst a world in crisis. It’s important to create safe spaces, especially when you are vulnerable or part of a targeted group.

God be in my eyes and in my looking. We must see reality as it is, and deal with reality on it’s own terms. Pay attention. Stay awake.

God be in my mouth and in my speaking. It’s necessary to wage war against evil, and the tongue can be like a sword. Speak truth to power in times like these.

God be in my heart, and in my thinking. It’s important to recognize that we cannot go this alone, and we can always appeal to God for help with our hearts and minds. There is incredible power in a single prayer.

The last line of the Sarum Prayer says: God be at my end, and at my departing. This teaches that we stand together with our head, our eyes, our mouth, and our heart and then go forward with our feet. Do justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly. 

God makes a way out of no way.