The Waters of Becoming

On Sunday at the beach, we reflected on the nature of the ocean and how it mirrors so much of what we understand God to be—powerful, gentle, beautiful, and a mystery. Like the waves smoothing the edges of rocks over time, God is also gently refining us in Spirit’s rhythms of healing and growth. 

In small groups, we answered the question, “What are the edges in your life you need help smoothing?” After a few short minutes of getting to know one another, we offered vulnerable information about our edges of resentment, control, insecurity, anxiousness, etc. One of the beauties of an exercise like this is that it invites us as a community to—in a shame-free nature—humbly talk about and normalize our limits. We do this not to inflict the “I should be better” or “I’m horrible” narratives, but rather to grow in our capacity to see that we are like a beautiful stone in the ocean that is in process of refinement throughout time. Theologian, Catherine Keller, names this a “collective genesis,” by this she means we are all a part of God’s creation, in the beautiful mess of life, and in process of growing. Another way she puts it is, we are all becoming. 

As a community, we are invited into the waters of becoming. Together, we press into the rhythms of growth—holding one another as we move away from shame and towards the freedom of admitting our limits and gently growing. Today, take some time to bring to mind one of your tender edges. Would you breathe deeply in and pray: “God, I am limited with this [name edge].” Exhale and pray: “Hold me close as you gently smooth me.” If you are able, reach out to a dear trust-worthy friend and practice sharing more about an edge you are needing Spirit’s healing with. In all of this, let us be gentle, open, and curious as we swim in God’s waters of becoming. 

• Dottie Oleson