What can love do today?

In John 11 (read here) we read of Jesus speaking of walking in the light and attending to friendship, promoting the Light and to demonstrating the healing gifts of Love. Aspects of the story are very hard for most of us, perhaps nearly all of us, to believe – what?  A person raised from the dead – after four days?

As I reflect upon that aspect of the chapter, I think of it as an allegory, and a very important one.  It is an allegory about something that takes place in life. Let me share a little personal history.

My parents were alcoholics.  There was violence, distance, and tenderness all present in my growing up years, until my father walked out – well, drove away in his Lincoln actually.  My mother struggled against her alcoholism which eventually took her life just as she turned 60.  My brother struggled with alcoholism most of his adult life, causing enormous problems – but much to his credit, through relationships and a turning to faith and to Light/God in his life – he was literally saved.  My father continued on, improving his life I think in some ways, but never able to confess or forgive or to ask for forgiveness – I do not think he was ever willing to cross the threshold from I’m in charge and life is about me to the path of relationships founded on the miracle of transcendent love – that asks us to give up our ego and learn to be in relationship, with humility and strength – but perhaps humility first – that enables us to see and live into a bigger and more hopeful reality.

Thanks to a few years in a Quaker school, the seed of that possibility and way was planted in me.  To the allegory – Jesus of Nazareth often speaks about the light – and choosing to walk in it versus stumbling in the dark.  He is talking about the light of faith and belief, and the choice to stay in the bright side of life.  I believe this is the same Light that we Quakers seek and attend to as we listen to the inward teacher.

Back to the allegory: Jesus wants his faith to be known.  He is bold about it.  Boldy, he becomes a key person in the story of Lazarus arising from the dark of a tomb, his face wrapped, unable to see light – until Jesus calls him.  Was Lazarus truly dead in a biological sense?  I do not know.  Did Lazarus participate in an event of emerging into the light in a way that caught everyone around to see?  Yes.  Was this intentionally bold?  Yes. Is it meaningful still to this day?  Yes.

It is meaningful as a powerful story to get us to consider the importance of being in the light, of listening to the teacher, and emerging from the dark to the light of hope, grace, and new life. Such has happened to me, many years ago.

Such has enabled me to escape the family history of alcohol problems, of relationship deadness, and to emerge into my life a different person – one of faith, hope and love.  Nothing else could have helped me be a suitable partner in a marriage that celebrated fifty years not long ago.  I embrace Light Relationships – and I give thanks that one Jesus of Nazareth was bold in teaching, courageous and loving in giving, and for delivering a legacy that goes on giving – thousands of years later.