Transformation

Hello! Yes, I do still exist, even though it's been more than a year since my last post! I guess I'm just never going to be one of those people who blogs regularly. But it's here for me when I need it, which is nice.

Recently, I attended my organization's annual conference in Chiang Mai. It's always good to see friends whom I rarely/never see outside of that conference. I also always look forward to the times of worship and the spiritual retreat that happens at the beginning of the week. This year, during the spiritual retreat, we were given the option of using our imagination to meditate on a particular passage of Scripture: Matthew 17's recounting of the Transfiguration. After being encouraged by the friend leading the session (thanks, Karen!) to consider what it would be like to have been there - what would you have seen? Felt? Heard? - I was inspired to write this. I thought I would share it, in case it helped anyone else see that story in a new light.

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Transformation

What would it be like, to go up a mountain with Jesus and just a few of your closest friends? To know Jesus had a special purpose for this particular hike - but that purpose is beyond anything you could have imagined.

You see your Teacher and Friend transfigured in front of you. He shines so brilliantly that you can't see his face (which was so familiar) behind the radiance. You realize this radiance has to come from heaven itself.

Then two figures out of the distant past appear, and they talk with your Teacher like he knows them already. You look at your friends, eyes wide. How do you even respond to this?

And then, as if you weren't already awed, amazed, and fearful enough - there's more. God Himself sends a cloud (like He did to guide His people out of slavery; somewhere in the back of your mind you make that connection, even as your fear grows) to envelop you, the two great prophets, and your Teacher. You hear a thundering voice, which can only be the Lord Himself. He proclaims your Teacher as His own dearly loved Son. What can you do but worship - worship, and wish you had realized this truth sooner? You have been living, eating, walking with, and learning from the very Son of God. How did you not know?

But then the cloud melts away, and your Friend touches you where you lie trembling in the dust. "Get up," He says. "Don't be afraid." You still recognize His voice, His touch. You still know Him, though you also know now how much more you need to know Him.

And He knows you. He isn't angry or disappointed. He brought you this far, and He isn't going anywhere.