Yesterday I lead the Wednesday Ecumenical Worship Service at the Cleveland Clinic. Those who I have worked with since the start of January were a bit surprised as they saw a different Lyle than they have in our encounters. The transformed Lyle with clear and loud voice. Though they did miss the tear or two that formed as I sat and listened to the Prayer’s of the People.
As I sat later in structured conversation, reflecting and growing in understanding amongst the things that came out was now as time drew to a close of us being together I was finally allowing my shell to crack, the light starting to come forth. So much of who I am that just never came up in all our time together, so much of who I am, of my gifts and talents, which I have been hesitant to share not just there but anywhere. A fact I have long been aware of, and which others have pointed out many times. Be it the classmate a year and a half ago who said every time she saw me, be it in the bookstore or… came to mind the hiding a light under a bushel, or my mother recently in phone conversation, or those within this community of chaplains who I have served with for a while now.
I have at times been hesitant to embrace, perhaps even more than hesitant, my calling due in part to that hiding of who I am. Why I hide, I am still working out, I have some ideas, but not full understanding. However I am starting to crack open, to allow that light of the Holy to shine out through me, and make the commitment now to continue to allow that light to break forth, to step out into the unknown and trust the Holy, to trust other, and perhaps most importantly right now to trust myself. To trust that the Holy would not call me, would not gift me with the gifts and talents that I have been gifted with unless I truly could use them, embrace them, to uplift the worth of all, the Peace of Christ, Comfort and hope of the Spirit, and love and grace of the Eternal Loving One as part of those seeking to form the peaceable community, aye even Zion.
Will you journey with me? Will you help me discover “who is Lyle” “who are you” and “who is Community of Christ”? as we seek to live as disciples of the Living Christ, resurrected, restored, and empowered to heal a world in need?
Peace be with you,
— Lyle II