Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is biweekly and a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.
Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.
Take a look at the signage written in the bricks of the gate entering the Garden of Gethsemane located at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Imagine the agony Christ experienced just for you. Breath in, breath out, surrender and invite God’s presence to help you be resonant.
PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined True Devotion. This week we will examine The SONshine. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive, and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”
PROMISE: Luke 23:44-45 Amplified Bible
44 It was now about the sixth hour (noon), and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.), 45 because the sun was [a]obscured; and the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was [b]torn in two [from top to bottom]
The death of Jesus brought darkness to the land.
PSALM: Alas and did my Savior bleed (At the Cross)
By: Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)
Chorus
PARABLE: When Jesus was crucified, even the sun hid. I can imagine creation not wanting to see the agony of the Holy One taking on the sin of the world. I wanted to hide from agony as we walked through the shadow of the pandemic death with our dad. The pit in my stomach felt like a knot winding tighter and tighter until I could not breathe. The tubes protruded from the nose of our dad with the bright hospital lights in the background shining through the screen of the Ipad. It was our last encounter, our last one-sided conversation, and our last goodbye. The screen went black when moments later the agonizing apology of the attending nurse echoed through the speaker of my phone announcing our dad’s death. It was about noon that day when darkness took over the VA hospital, the health care workers on that shift, my husband, and our family.
It was the moment our dad became part of the statistic of over 500,000 COVID-19 deaths
recorded. Though each circumstance is different, I feel confident that with the 499,999 other families that experienced the loss of their family members, that on that day, their world went dark. Perhaps it was for minutes, hours, days, months, or even a year. Darkness can represent depression. There are times when I have been in darkness. Not seen any hope for the next day. Not able to see the SON rising and greeting me with a new day.
Yes. Even though I know that in darkness the SON-Jesus Christ, Savior, Redeemer, Friend, Rescuer, and Light in the Darkness is always shining–there are days I sit in darkness. Days I wonder what the circle of faith heroes would say if they only knew the worship leader, intercessor, God lover, beloved one of Jesus bulb was dim. I pray as a non-judging, light bearer they would step into my dark place, offer me their light, increase the wattage, and let Jesus, the SON shine hope through them. During this challenging time of global emotional trauma as we experience vicarious trauma with each newscast, I invite you to open the shades of darkness and let the SON shine into the window of your soul. Even if you don’t feel like you are sitting in the dark, let the light of Jesus into each day. I encourage you to reach out to someone and share your light. It is the only way we will survive the residue of this ongoing trauma of COVID-19, social injustice, and renormalizing.
PONDER and WANDER: During this preparation time before Easter,
I invite you to take time to ponder the question: What emotional, mental, or spiritual area of my life do I need the SON to shine?
Soul care training exercise:
- Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you are there any areas of darkness (sin, depression, confusion, guilt, shame, etc.) that need the SONshine?
- Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Ask the SON to shine brightly into any darkness.
- Focus on what God shows you and receive the glow of His Presence.
- Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Ask the SON to shine brightly into any darkness.
PRAYER: Daddy Jesus, you ARE the SON shine. Shine brightly into the darkness of this world. Send light-bearers to those overtaken and hiding in the darkness. Expose sin, depression, shame, guilt, loneliness, and any dark seed rooted within our hearts. Help us be like candles lighting the way to peace. Let your light shine and glow until all we see is You and Your glory!
PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to let the SON shine His vibrant light. Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.
Until next time, be Resonant.
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BONUS Guided Meditation. I invite you to take 4 minutes to listen to the SONshine guided meditation.
Image attributions: Text art app with words added
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