Week 3: Called to Partnership

"Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he's not around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?" Guardian angel Clarence speaks those words to George Bailey in the classic film It's a Wonderful Life. Clarence gives George the chance to see what the world would have been like if George had never been born. In ways he had never realized, George's life changed the lives of not only his family, but his entire town and people all over the world he had never even met. In this week's readings from Bruce Epperly's book Holy Adventure, the author uses George Bailey as an example to all of us that our decisions and actions, too, affect the world around us in ways we may never know.


Like Abraham and Sarah, Epperly says, each of us is blessed to be a blessing. "Blessedness is the gift of a larger perspective on our lives. . . God's vision of your personal adventure includes those you will directly touch and those who are shaped indirectly through your blessing of others. . . Each of our actions has consequences that radiate out into the universe, shaping the lives of persons we will never meet." (pg. 91) That the smallest things we do can positively influence the lives of others half a world away is often difficult to see. But this is our calling, and one of the ways God chooses to work in the world. Can you think of a time someone's seemingly insignificant action positively influenced the course of your life?

Epperly invites us to make a conscious effort to bless everyone we meet. For example, he says, we may do this through "letting another go first in the checkout line, picking up a dropped parcel for someone, or smiling at a stranger . . . calling your government representative about a piece of legislation and expressing your opinion clearly but kindly; taking a moment to say hello and affirming by your personal acknowledgement the holiness of a homeless person as you drop a coin in his or her can; making yourself available to help a harried father or mother at the grocery store; working cheerfully on a Habitat for Humanity project; praying for each person who comes into your house of worship; or finding a common cause with someone whose political views differ from your own." (pg. 95) In my own life, I have been blessed by small acts of kindness from varied and often unexpected sources. An offer of friendship from a child my own age of an ethnic group I had been told to mistrust; a word of encouragement and acceptance from a teacher at a moment when I questioned my own worth as a person; a kiss of blessing from a man who survived the Holocaust with his faith and joy intact -- all these and more were gifts of a moment that changed my life. And though I do not fully understand it, I believe that the blessings I have given, consciously and unconsciously, continue to influence the lives of others. By God's design, this web of interconnectedness is the way the world works.


It is amazing enough to think that our smallest actions change the experience of other people we will never meet, but Epperly does not stop there. He asserts that our thoughts and actions even influence the experience of God. "God is not merely a judge who objectively evaluates our lives from a distance. God feels our lives from inside and receives our experience into God's own life. Christian ethics asks, 'How will my actions shape my neighbor's life and bring justice and shalom to the world?' It also asks, 'How will my actions shape God's experience? Will my actions give God a more beautiful or an uglier world?'" (pg. 105) This was an astounding revelation for me. Like so much in Epperly's book, it flies in the face of the traditional teaching many of us grew up with, in which God is immovable and nothing we do makes much of a difference to God one way or another. In that view, God is always just doing God's thing and we do ours. What God does certainly influences us, but to think of the reverse being true borders on heresy in such a worldview. When we believe that our lives can shape God's experience, however, will we not consider our actions even more carefully?



God invites us to experience the holy in unexpected places, Epperly says, most notably in "the least of these," to use Jesus's words. The most vulnerable people in our lives and in our world are "the least of these," and in serving them, Jesus told us, we serve him. What we often neglect, however, is what we can learn from them. Most of us are more comfortable giving than receiving. We like to be in a position of privilege and power in which we can give of our abundance, and deceive ourselves that we need nothing. While our needs may not be material at this moment, we are still in need. Those people that we are able to serve in tangible ways may be able to give us a new understanding of God's dream of interconnectedness for the world, as, in Epperly's words, the Christ in them greets the Christ in us. Together, we can affirm one another's worth as people created in the image of God, something we all need and which cannot be bought. And who knows? Tomorrow our situations may be reversed, and we may find ourselves the ones on the receiving end of material help.


One way we may be able to influence the lives of others we never meet is through prayer. This is a bit of a tricky subject, because in all honesty, I can't begin to tell you how prayer "works." In some cases, it seems that prayers for a person's healing or even a global event can work miracles. I met a person once who was convinced that the united prayers of American churches were the only thing that averted the Cuban missile crisis. Working in a hospital, I do sometimes see incredible recoveries in patients after I and their families have prayed for them. At other times, however, I see patients who were prayed for and loved just as much continue to suffer debilitating illness and even die. There is no formula that I have been able to discern. Though also uncertain about the how, Epperly is convinced that prayer can be a powerful force for good in the world. He writes that "as we ponder the power of prayer to shape the world, we can visualize our prayers creating a positive 'field of force' around those for whom we pray, enabling them to be more attentive to God's dream for their lives and opening the door for more lively expressions of divine love and relatedness in the world. As a nonlocal causal phenomenon, prayer touches others immediately without the need of any form of physical contact. In many ways, all prayer is 'distant healing' prayer. Our prayerful intentions for the highest and best of another also enable God to transform that person's world in new and creative ways." (pg. 104) As an exercise in our small group last week, we each took a section of the newspaper and prayed through it. In matters that were out of our hands, such as the global economy, the war in Afghanistan, the continuing sin of racism, and others, we asked for God's help and influence in the lives of those affected. Praying through the news is a spiritual discipline that can help alleviate our sense of powerlessness, and connect us to the larger world in surprising ways. Our prayers can remind us to operate from a sense of divine abundance, rather than being paralyzed by our own scarcity of resources. Epperly affirms that "living in terms of abundance is the result of perceiving our connectedness to God, loved ones, and the wider community, regardless of our inner or outer conditions of poverty or wealth." (pg. 95)


Partnering with God to heal the world also involves forgiveness, Epperly reminds us. This is something I think we all struggle with, and much of the problem lies in our faulty ideas of what forgiveness means. We are told as children to "forgive and forget," or when someone apologizes to us for a wrong done, to say, "That's okay. I forgive you." But when we have truly been hurt, sinned against, that is most definitely not okay, and forgetting may be impossible. Instead, Epperly gives us a different definition of forgiveness. "Forgiving is not forgetting, but transforming the meaning of the past in the present moment. . . In authentic forgiveness, the past event is not forgotten but experienced as an opportunity for greater freedom, love, and creativity. This does not mean that we minimize its impact. . . As a spiritual discipline, forgiveness is a gentle process. It cannot be hurried. To find wholeness, we must fully experience our anger, hatred, depression, and despair about life's traumatic experiences." (pg. 113) God does not expect us to quickly shake hands and make up with one who has abused or traumatized us. But we are called, as God's people, to consider our own and others' need for forgiveness in a realistic and humanizing manner. Each one who hurts us is a person created in God's image, just as we are, who has done wrong, just as we have in various ways. God stands ready to forgive each of us, and to teach us, in time, how to forgive as well. "To forgive is not only to affirm our value as God's beloved children but also to recognize that same holiness in those whose actions temporarily disguise God's presence. While we will not allow ourselves to be abused or treated unjustly, we also look for signs of healing in the most unlikely of places as we work for the healing of ourselves, our families, and the earth." (pg. 114)



One member of the class asked this week if forgiveness meant we had to stay in relationship with one who has hurt us. As Christians, we are often told to put others' needs above our own, and to some extent, this is a good thing. But failing to take care of ourselves is just as wrong as neglecting the needs of others. In the last day of readings this week, Epperly focuses on Jesus's command in Mark 12:31 that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Many of us are guilty of ignoring the second part of that commandment. We have sanctified self-denial to the point that many Christians push themselves to the brink of burnout in the name of service to God. This was surely not God's intention. Epperly tells us, "We cannot wisely love others until we know how to love ourselves -- and do it! In the dynamic and interdependent fabric of life, our wholeness and well-being and the wholeness and well-being of others are indivisible. Indeed, we cannot achieve our vocation in life apart from one another. . . We find God's presence not only in the natural world but also in the face of our neighbor and in our own personal adventures." (pg. 118) God's sabbath rest is an integral part of the creation story, and being co-creators alongside God means allowing ourselves moments of sabbath, as well. As we journey with God looking for ways to heal the world this week, let us remember to care for ourselves as part of that world.

Here are some of Epperly's daily affirmations on which to meditate this week. Choose one or more to integrate into your own adventure.

God blesses me so I can be a blessing.

I bless each person I meet.

God's abundance flows through my life toward others.

I expect great things from God in (a particular situation).

I give and receive God's love in every encounter.

I am constantly giving and receiving grace and love throughout the day.

I see God in (a particular person).

I do something beautiful for God in every situation.

God loves my enemies as well as me.

I experience God's presence in (a difficult person or political figure).

I forgive myself and claim God's love for me.

God is with me as I seek to forgive (a particular person).

I love myself just as I am.

I treat myself with love, taking time for rest and refreshment.


Some questions to think about this week and respond to in the comments below:

Where do you experience God's blessing in your life? In what ways do you bless others?

Where have you experienced a small action making a tremendous difference in your life or in the life of another? What are the implications for our faith?

Reflect on the difference between living by abundance and living by scarcity. How do these different ways of living reflect our faith and trust in God?

How do you feel when you consider that your actions shape God's experience? What would you like to give to God?

How do you experience God in "the least of these"? In your enemies? In your neighbor? In yourself?

Week 2: Who Are You?

Last week, we explored our images of God, our understanding of who God is. In week 2 of Holy Adventure, Bruce Epperly invites us to take a closer look at ourselves. Who are we? What are the deepest truths of our identity and selfhood? Biblically speaking, we get our first clue early, in the very first chapter of the very first book. Genesis 1:26-27 states that on the sixth day of creation "God said, 'Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness;' . . . So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Somehow unlike anything else in creation, the biblical text affirms that we were endowed with the imago Dei, the image of God. Wonderful! So . . . what does that mean?

In asking the question, we are in good company. Theologians have been debating the subject for centuries, and still have not come up with one definitive answer. Epperly believes this is a good thing. "There is a virtue in the vagueness of the Genesis passage. . . To define God's image too precisely leads to categorizing some persons as less than fully human if they do not meet our definition of God's presence or human uniqueness." (pg. 62) I know from experience what Epperly means. I once heard a preacher declare that the image of God was fully realized in Adam and Eve as one unit. For him, the imago Dei was complete only in the context of a marriage relationship. Where, I wondered, did that leave me and all the other unmarried persons in the world? This very narrow definition excluded an awfully large percentage of the population! I knew then as I know now that this could not be right. Each and every one of us is created in God's image, no exceptions. What difference would it make, Epperly asks, if we made a conscious effort toward each person with whom we come into contact to remember that she or he bears the image of God?

At times, it is hard to believe that certain people are created in God's image. It is perhaps most difficult, though, to believe it of ourselves. We know ourselves so well, we think, all of our imperfections and dark thoughts. To see ourselves as bearers of the divine image as much as Adam and Eve, Sarah and Abraham, or other biblical characters is hard at times. We may hold ourselves to a different standard than the people in the Bible, thinking they existed on some other spiritual plane. But Epperly reminds us, "Divine revelation did not end with the closing of the biblical canon or a chosen set of scriptural texts. . . We are the Esthers, Pauls, Marys, Josephs, Peters, and Mary Magdalenes of our time." (pg. 64) Who can you relate to as you read the Bible, and how does your own holy adventure mirror his or hers? How is your journey different from hers or his? The people of the Bible were all just as human as we are, and yet God's light shone through them. The same is true of us, whether we believe it or not. "Though we may doubt our abilities and hide our gifts, God's light still shines, constantly illuminating and transforming our lives even when we are unaware of its power. . . God's light radiates from within our lives, and there is nothing we can do about it." (pg. 65) As Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 5:14, we may try to dampen our light, but we can never completely hide it or put it out. What a comforting thought.

Though some things about us -- like the fact that we reflect the image of God -- remain the same, in other ways we are constantly changing and, hopefully, growing. Epperly reminds us that even Jesus, our most perfect example of humanity, grew and changed. Luke 2:52 tells us, "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and humankind." It may be strange for some of us to think of Jesus learning and growing spiritually. It would be easy to think of him as having always been perfect, not needing to learn anything. But, Epperly states, "It is obvious from Luke's gospel that even Jesus needed to grow in his relationship with God. He needed to claim, and then push beyond, the deepest spiritual experiences of his people. The Gospels suggest that Jesus continued to grow spiritually throughout his life. Jesus constantly explored new possibilities of God's presence in his ministry of healing and transformation, and we need to do the same." (pg. 68-69) As evidence of Jesus's growth, Epperly points to the story told in Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30 in which a foreign woman comes to Jesus asking him to heal her daughter. At first Jesus refuses, even comparing her to a dog, which would have been the normal view of foreigners in the culture in which he grew up. The woman is persistent, however, and as Epperly puts it, "the foreign mother's faith and persistence convinced Jesus that divine healing is available to everyone. As a result of this holy encounter, Jesus grew in his embrace of ethnic diversity and in his understanding of the scope of his mission." (pg. 69) In the same way, Epperly encourages us to continue growing in our embrace of diverse ideas and people.

Another way in which we grow is through confronting temptation, as Jesus did throughout his life. While some believe that God purposely "tests" us at such times, Epperly's opinion is that "temptations are not directly sent by God to test our character but are the natural result of our personal growth and our openness to growing in stature and vocation." (pg. 73) Jesus's temptation in the wilderness after his baptism is a perfect example, Epperly believes, of how the good can be the enemy of the best. Jesus was not tempted to do evil, but to do things that seemed good -- to demonstrate his extraordinary power, to grow his number of followers, to be a ruler and leader of people. In our own lives, it is such temptations against which we must be on guard. Those things that may seem good, and especially seem easier, can distract us from the best things which will challenge us and allow us to grow into the people God dreams we will be.

Stagnation is also our enemy. When we grow comfortable with where we are in life and fear anything new, we sabotage our own evolution as persons and derail our spiritual journey. Epperly cites the story in Luke 5:1-11 of Peter and his friends on a fishing trip. This was their job, their livelihood. They had been doing it for years and certainly had their own techniques that had worked for them in the past. During this night of fishing, however, their tried and true methods had been unsuccessful. They caught nothing. From the shore, Jesus called out to them to try something new. They must have been exhausted, and anxious about trying an untested strategy. But when they did, they caught more fish than the boat could hold. Where in your life is Jesus calling you to deeper waters, uncharted territory?

The apostle Paul is one who was certainly called outside his comfort zone. After an encounter with the risen Christ, he went from persecuting Christians to being one of their greatest missionaries. Again and again, he reached out to those outside his circle of familiarity and found things in common with them. "Though Paul was Jewish by ethnicity and Christ-centered in theology, he believed that the reality present in Christ inspires the wisdom residing within every faith tradition. Christians can embrace the practices and insights of other faiths, precisely because persons of other religious traditions also participate in the holy adventure of God's omnipresence. While we travel different paths and receive different insights from God, we are all inspired by the Holy and Loving One." (pg. 85) What do you think of Epperly's statements? How do you think they would sound to someone outside the Christian faith?

Here are a few of Epperly's daily affirmations for this week. If you like, choose one each day to repeat to yourself as you go about your life, and see how it changes your perspective on your own identity and that of those around you.

I am created in God's image.

(Name another person) is created in God's image.

I am the light of the world. I shine for God.

You are the light of the world, _____. (affirm another person)

I am continually growing in wisdom and stature.

I embrace diversity and complexity with love and understanding.

God is with me in every struggle.

God guides me during times of temptation.

In Christ's mind, I am connected with all things.

Christ's energy flows through my body, mind, and spirit.

Behind every failure, God has placed a new dream for me.

I courageously venture into deep waters with God as my companion.

I live and move and have my being in God.

The infinite energy of the universe inspires and revitalizes me.

As you go through this week, living into your own holy adventure more and more fully, remember who you are. Here are some of Epperly's questions for discussion, which you can respond to in the comments. We have a great conversation going, and I hope it will continue!

• What does it mean to you that we are "created in God's image"? Where do you sense God's image in yourself and others? What keeps you from experiencing God's image in your life?



• What do you consider your greatest gift? In what ways do you nurture that gift from God? In what ways do you hide it?



• How do you experience God's light in your life? How often do you experience God's light in others?



• As you seek to grow in wisdom and stature, what new ideas are you struggling with? What is too far out for you to venture? Where is God challenging you to launch out into deeper waters?



• What are your greatest temptations as you explore your personal growth?



• How do you find "wilderness times" of quiet prayer and reflection in the midst of your busy life?

Week 1: Transforming God

It is not something we often think about, but how we see God shapes and is shaped by how we see ourselves. Those who view God as a demanding perfectionist often see themselves as failures, unable to live up to God's exacting standards. People who truly believe that God is love are more likely to love self and neighbor freely. Of course, as Bruce Epperly is quick to point out in Week 1 of his book, all our images of God are flawed. We cannot come up with one word, image, or description that fully encapsulates who God is. God is too big, too mysterious, too incomprehensible, too holy. And yet, Epperly also says, “God does not hide from us. The God of scripture, tradition, and spiritual experience wants to be known.” (pg. 29) Though the words and images we use to describe God are imperfect, they are materials through which God can work to reveal aspects of God's character to us. Epperly invites us to go deeper in our search for God, to be “playful mystics,” delighting in the discovery of God in unexpected places or circumstances.

The universal nature of God's love is something that is often mentioned in church, but few are willing to fully embrace it in all its implications. Epperly believes that not only does God love every human – regardless of gender, religion, race, nationality, physical or mental health, social class, or any other barrier – but also that “God's love is not limited to humankind. All creation bears the divine image and reflects God's love. . . The adventurous God loves fox terriers, Siamese cats, and the color purple! God has sufficient stature to reach out to Islamic fundamentalists and American entrepreneurs alike, as well as Pentecostal preachers and progressive professors.” (pg. 32) We often overlook the importance of the non-human elements of creation in God's dream for the universe, but surely we cannot be the only creatures about whom God cares. In a later week, Epperly will expand on this idea, so we will return to it then.

Seeing God as Creator is not a new idea for most of us. We have most likely read the creation story (actually two stories) from Genesis, and have heard from people who believe that God created the world in literally seven days. But what happened after that? Did God stop creating? Was divine creativity spent after a week? No, I don't believe so, and neither does Epperly. The world around us and the intricate tapestries of our own lives testify to the continuing creativity of God. Instead of thinking of creation as a finished process, Epperly invites us to see “that God is continually working in our personal, planetary, and cosmic evolution, and . . . that we live in the 'eighth day' of creation. . . Though we live in a risky universe in which happy endings cannot be presumed, we can choose to become God's partners in an open system whose best days lie in the future.” (pg. 40) We are creative people because we are the children of a God who is constantly creating anew, and who invites us to be partners in the ongoing process of creation. That is an exciting prospect! In our first group class, some of us told stories of times we could clearly see God working in our lives and the lives of those around us, when we got to be part of creating something new together with God. They were wonderful stories, and I think we all have them, if we only pay attention. Sometimes we need to hear from someone else's viewpoint in order to see clearly. As an example, Epperly points to the story of Esther, from the Old Testament book of the same name. Though she was a wife of the king, she felt powerless to stop the plot she had heard about to destroy her people. It took her cousin Mordecai to show her that perhaps God had worked to bring her into the royal court “for just such a time as this.”

One tool that Epperly gives us for turning our focus more toward the adventurous activity of God is daily affirmations. In each day's reading, he gives several short sentences for the reader to choose from and repeat throughout the day. This may seem a strange exercise for those who have never done it before, but something so simple really can help change our perspective. For example, I found my feelings toward someone I had had a disagreement with soften as I repeated the affirmation, “God's love embraces both me and _____.” As I filled the blank with this person's name throughout the day, the truth of the affirmation began to sink in, and I was able to see him not only as someone who had angered me, but as someone loved by God just as much as I am. I would invite you to give daily affirmations a try if you have never done so. Here are a few Epperly gives us in week 1:

God loves me (fill in your name), yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

God's love embraces both ________ and ___________ (name two political, military, or personal adversaries).

Nothing can separate me from the love of God.

God is my companion in (name a particular situation).

God and I are partners in God's new creation.

Divine creativity is revealed in (a particular life situation or aspect of your life).

Divine wisdom is at work in my life right now.

I awaken to divine inspiration in synchronous moments and encounters.

God is inspiring me with every breath.

God is inspiring me in (a particular life or work situation).

God loves me just as I am. I am God's beloved child.

My life brings beauty to everyone I meet.

God forgives my mistakes and helps me begin again.

God is helping me find the best path in my life.

Epperly's challenge to see God and ourselves in new ways is an exciting one. Such a change in perspective has the power to transform the way we interact with one another and the world. As we go forth this week to love and serve in the name of the creative Creator, here are some questions to ponder and respond to in the comments below:

• What does it mean to you to be a “playful mystic”?



• What words have you used in your life to describe God? Which ones still work for you? Which do not, and why?



• When did God become more than a word for you? How?



• As you reflect on your life, what new adventure is God calling you toward?



• When have you experienced divine synchronicity? How has it changed your life?



• What difference does your life make to God and others, as a cocreator with God?



• Do you think we can surprise God by our thoughts and actions?

A Resurrection Miracle

When I went to bed last night the preparations for the rescue were in the final stage. By the time I awoke this morning 7 miners had been pulled to safety.

By any measure this is truly an incredible story. Thirty-three miners, ranging in age from 19 to 64 have been trapped over 2,000 feet beneath the earth since the mine in which they were working collapsed on August 5. That was before the first day of school, before the first football game, back when the Braves were in first place. So much has happened since then—above ground. But for these 33 men, day and night have been eerily similar. They survived the first few days by sharing the meager rations they had. Over the past months (yes that is months) they have survived by rations and news and medicines that have been lowered through a small hole. The fact that we have gotten to this point is a miracle.

And we do say “we.” As the miners emerged from their tombs they have been greeted by media from literally around the world. North Korea, that most reclusive of nations, has sent its media to cover this story.

Why? What about this event has captured the imagination and attention of the world?

It is a human-interest story. 33 men trapped underground, their families waiting for news, for something—it is the story of movies (and more than a few have already been pitched.

It is a story of nations working together. This mine in Chile has pulled on the hearts of other countries where everyday men go into the earth to get the resources that modern society needs to operate. That international bond has pulled an international team together to rescue “their brothers.”

It is a story that rarely ends well. How often do we hear about a mine disaster? How often do we hear about rescues? In our country we are well acquainted with the recent disasters in WV, where some bodies still are entombed, never to be recovered.

And so this time, we hoped. We hoped that maybe, just maybe THIS time there would be great news! And there is!

But as I watched these individuals emerge from the ground, I had to ask again, “What makes this rescue different?” When people were pulled from the top of their homes after the flooding of Katrina, in Nashville, in Pakistan, there wasn’t this kind of international outpouring. When a family is rescued from a fire it quickly leaves the front page—if it ever makes it.

But being pulled out of the ground…

Remember Jessica McClure, who as a 2 year old fell into an abandoned well? National networks interrupted their programs to show her rescued after 2 days. Yes, she was a baby, but how many times are children rescued from horrible situations and yet never get that coverage?

It seems to me that it is something about being buried. There is something about being underground that makes this story so mesmerizing. In many ways it is our ultimate fear—being buried alive. (Ironically, NCIS LA had a story last night, as the rescue was getting started about a young girl buried alive.)

But I think it is deeper. I think that this story pulls up our hope—even if not conscious, even if not religious, for resurrection. For over 2 months have been buried! And today they are hugging their families. For over 2 months they were in total and complete darkness and today they face the bright light of the sun and cameras.

For over 2 months they were lost, but today are rescued.

Somewhere it is the coming back from the ground, from that place where we first emerged, from that place where we will ultimately return. On Ash Wednesday we are reminded, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Just not today.

And for that, we join in the celebration! And pray that their story might ultimately be ours.

"What Do You Mean God Doesn't Have Everything Planned?!" Embarking on the Holy Adventure

This week, a small group of us from Providence will begin meeting together to explore Bruce Epperly's book, Holy Adventure: 41 Days of Audacious Living. Several people, both in the church and from far away, have told me they would like to be part of the study, but due to scheduling or sheer distance, are unable to do so. Over the next six weeks, I would like this blog to be your point of entry to the conversation. If you do not already have the book, you can order it here. Whether or not you agree with everything it says (and most of us will find some points of contention), I believe it is well worth the read. After a brief introduction, it is divided into daily readings that will take no more than 20 minutes or so of your day.


Even if you do not have the time or inclination to read the book, I still invite you to participate in this online conversation. Epperly's book raises some interesting issues related to the way we think about how God works in the world and how we are a part of that. Many of us have been raised hearing about "God's sovereign will," a plan laid out before the creation of the world in which God had everything decided and nothing was left to chance. Our job, many of us have been told, is to find God's will for our lives -- the purpose God had already decided on for us -- and make sure we are obedient to that plan. Epperly takes a different view of things. Recalling the story of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis chapter 12, he proposes that God calls us beyond predictability and predetermination to adventure.

"To see your life as a holy adventure that includes not only yourself but also your loved ones, the entire planet, and God, broadens the horizons of your life and influence on the world. Though the present moment and the immediate future are shaped by our previous decisions and a multitude of environmental factors, each choice we make can be the tipping point between health and illness, love and fear, and life and death in the unfolding adventure of a day or a lifetime. As spiritual children of Abraham and Sarah, we are called to listen and then say yes to the movements of God's holy adventure within the ordinary moments of our own lives." (pg. 8)


Epperly refers to the legend that ancient European maps were inscribed with the words "Ne plus ultra" at the edges, meaning, "There is no more." After the voyages of explorers like Columbus and others about five hundred years ago, the mapmakers instead began writing, "Plus ultra." They didn't know exactly what was out there, but they knew there was more! It can be frightening to travel into the unknown, and following God on the holy adventure means going off the map. Epperly points us to the story in John chapter 5 of Jesus healing a man who had been paralyzed for nearly forty years. All he knew was sickness, when Jesus approached and asked him, "Do you want to be well?" It must have been a scary proposition, something totally foreign to him, but he made the choice to trust Jesus and embark on his own holy adventure.

Notice I said he made the choice. Could he have chosen not to be healed? Could he have said "no" to Jesus, possibly changing the course of Jesus's ministry? Epperly believes so, and here is one of the points at which his ideas are so different from what many of us from traditional evangelical backgrounds have been taught. The following paragraph from his introductory chapter is a good summation of where the book is headed.

"When we choose to become partners in God's holy adventure, our world truly changes. . . We discover that God doesn't have everything planned and that the story of our lives is open-ended. We discover that our adventure is part of a vastly larger spiritual adventure, for the universe itself is also open and unfinished. Yes, there are plotlines, shaped by our families of origin, genetics, culture, faith traditions, economic backgrounds, race and gender, and planetary history, but these do not tell the whole story. God is at work in our lives and has transformational visions for our futures, but these visions of the future are constantly shifting as we choose one path or another. Our choices partly shape God's next movements in the dance of life. God loves us too much to treat us like puppets who cannot shape our own destinies. Our input truly matters -- to God and to the world -- today and for generations to come! . . Yes, God has many visions of your possible futures and the futures of this planet. But God . . . has left many details and outcomes open for your creative input. God rejoices in our creativity and wants us to be willing partners in the creation of worlds to come." (pgs. 13-14)


How does this idea fit with what you learned as a child or even as an adult in church? Can you think of biblical stories or events from your own life that shed light on this subject? Believing that our choices have real and lasting consequences, not only for ourselves but for other people, the entire creation, and yes, even God, is a sobering thought. Many of us have learned that God is immutable, that is to say that God never changes. This, too, Epperly calls into question. He believes that our decisions and actions affect God's way of working in the world, and even God's experience of the world. Is it strange to think of God as having feelings, as experiencing sadness or joy? For some of us, it probably is. We have been given an image of God that is so far removed from human experience, so distant and alien, as to be unreachable, immovable. (This is in spite of the gospel accounts of Jesus showing anger, sadness, fear, and other emotions, but we will get to that later.) Perhaps you have often thought of God as a stern authoritarian, watching us from far away with a scowl. Instead, Epperly sees God as an artist, taking pleasure in creation and watching with eager anticipation to see our next move.

"Like a poet or artist, God works with the materials God constantly receives from the world in order to help us become the poets and artists of our own lives. . . In the immensity of the fifteen-billion year cosmic adventure, God works gently, creating and re-creating, choosing one path and then taking another, pausing for a sabbath moment simply to experience the wonder of galaxies and quarks, dinosaurs and black holes. God has a vision for each moment as well as for the vast cosmic journey but trusts the universe enough to 'let go' of the minute details of life in order to experience the process along with us." (pg. 17)

Does such a vision of God make your heart race? Do you long to get to know this adventurous God better and be a companion alongside God on the journey? That is the invitation Bruce Epperly's book gives us. I hope you will join the adventure, by reading the book, contributing to the blog conversation, or both. Each week, I will post a new blog entry giving you a taste of that week's readings along with some questions for discussion from Epperly's small group guide or the chapters themselves. Here are some things to think about and discuss this week:

• As you read the introduction to Epperly's book or the selections quoted here, what words or phrases were most meaningful for you?
• To what adventure is life calling you these days?
• What spiritual practices or disciplines give shape to your holy adventure?
• In what ways do you see God as personal? as impersonal?
• When and where have you most fully experienced God's adventure in your life?

Now as we embark on this holy adventure together, in the words of a benediction I once heard, may the Lord bless us and surprise us!