Restoration

Everyone knows the idiom “miss the boat” means to miss out, to be left behind or stranded.  When “the ship doesn’t come in,” we’re without, empty-handed, still waiting.

In this context, a marine analogy comes to mind - one of ourselves as “leaky boats” with holes.  Sometimes we're aware of our figurative holes and assume there are no plugs; that’s just the way we are.  We pray for change, grit our teeth, and tolerate the drag of so much water while not truly believing we can be healed in a lasting way.  Maybe we’d really, really like our boat to turn, to head another direction, but there’s just too much water. Too much baggage.

But even at this late stage in life, I’m encouraged by the early Church Fathers (think first several centuries) who offer both explanation and remedy.  When normal human desires and habits become imbalanced, they can inflict wounds by “taking over” in a debilitating way.  However, these wounds can be healed through the practice of spiritual disciplines like watchfulness (protective alertness, vigilance), prayer (with designated routines and time-tested examples), fasting (at regular times with other believers), and sacramental worship (focused on outward, visible signs of inward, divine presence and grace).  These are not heavy-handed legalistic laws, but rather curative tools.

Life’s strong winds and storms are inevitable; safe passage and harbor are not accidental or automatic.  Our leaky boats need healing.  I’m drawn to the Church Fathers and the original Christian view of the restoration of humanity, and am grateful to be learning from them.