Thistle Theology
Sunday’s gospel text told the story of Jesus healing a man with a withered hand. I love these stories of healing in the Scriptures because they reveal a very personal God who longs to make us whole. The healing Jesus provides to us is not always immediate. Like faith, healing takes time. We sometimes have to endure pokes and prods and ups and downs. Becca Stevens, an Episcopal priest and founder of Thistle Farms in Nashville, leans on thistles as a powerful metaphor for healing in her book, Love Heals:
In the small space below the blossom and above the dagger thorns, there is a smooth part where you can hold onto the flower to harvest it. Since the plant is known for its dangerous sharp edges, this smooth spot comes as a sweet surprise, like all grace. Thistles remind us that despite the thorns, creation remains healing and beautiful. They teach that people, like plants, are all part of that creation, and there is no one we need to condemn or leave behind.
As United Methodists, we are firm believers in grace. Healing and grace are as closely intertwined as pieces of the thistle. Let us not grow discouraged when life feels like a crown of thorns. Let’s remember instead that under that crown of thorns is the face of God whose blood was shed to make us whole.
all good things to each of you,
Pastor Darian
Update: Louisville First United Methodist Church
As previously shared, at a church conference held on March 25, 175 members of First UMC of Louisville expressed a desire to leave The Mississippi Annual Conference. On Wednesday, May 23, Bishop James Swanson, Sr., emailed an update on the discernment process for First UMC of Louisville. Below is a statement from that email:
“After exploring the potential viability for ministry, the leadership of the Mississippi Annual Conference deemed that it is vitally important to sustain a strong United Methodist presence in Louisville and Winston County. Therefore, the conference has decided that First UMC of Louisville will continue as a United Methodist church and Rev. Carl Grubbs will serve as interim pastor there effective Thursday,
May 24.”
At Annual Conference, Bishop Swanson announced that Rev. Tom Potter has been appointed as pastor of Louisville First UMC for the 2018-2019 appointment year. Please be in prayer for the Louisville church and its leaders.
If you would like to read a copy of the full email from Bishop Swanson, please email me at darianduck@yahoo.com and I will forward it to you.