"Lift" | Reflection by Micah Luce (Vestry Class of 2022)

What comes down must go up. In paradoxical scriptural fashion (rich=poor, last=first) biblical gravity is turned upside down. Physically speaking, whatever is thrown into the air descends whence it came. Objects don’t naturally counteract the laws of gravity; they must actively be thrust, thrown, launched, bounced, or lifted into the air. It is their natural state to then return to earth. 

I find my own spiritual state to be quite the opposite. I want recognition, fame, wealth, or to be esteemed. It seems that my nature tends toward self-importance; it is against my natural state to be brought low. In the realm of ego, rather than lifting myself, it is lowering myself that takes action.

We are told that we must take the initiative to “humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord…” (James 4.10). We have the perfect example of chosen, active humility in our savior, who “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but…took on the form of a servant…and humbled himself” (Phil 2.6-7). So why all this talk of self-lowering when today’s word is lift? Because what comes down must go up. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up.” We must leave the spiritual lifting to God.

Prayer for today: Jesus, thank you for not only telling us what it means to lower ourselves, but also for doing so yourself. I trust that you will lift me up in resurrection to confidently kneel before God one day. Amen.

Words in the Wilderness - Walk through the season of Lent with Trinity, one word at a time. Every day (except on Sundays) we will post a photo and a brief refection written by someone in our Trinity community. https://www.trinitynewhaven.org/words-in-the-wilderness