Rachel Held Evans: Searching for Sunday
“This is what’s most annoying and beautiful about the windy Spirit, and why we so often miss it. It has a habit of showing up in all the wrong places and among all the wrong people, defying our categories and refusing to take direction.”—Rachel Held Evans, Searching for Sunday (Nelson Books, 2015), p. 196.
Our world still grieves the death of 37-year-old Rachel Held Evans on May 4, 2019. She was a spiritual voice for many millennials, their parents, and their grandparents. I treasure the times we met her on her podcasts, at writing conferences, and at our cathedral in Little Rock, where she was a guest speaker.
Larry Burton recently reviewed her book, Inspired, on this blog, where she interprets some of our favorite Bible stories as Rachel wrestles with some of our most significant questions about suffering and doubt.
Today’s writing relates to a quote from Searching for Sunday, in which Rachel struggles through the liturgical year, seeking her faith and a church community as she journeys through the sacraments.
At Pentecost, I will remember that Rachel reminds us that the wind, the Holy Spirit Jesus describes to Nicodemus, reaches even this Pharisee. Nicodemus eventually hears the wind, speaks up for Jesus at his trial, and cares for his body when most of the world abandons him.
Rachel reminds us that the Spirit is both within and beyond the traditional church if we only have eyes to see and feel it.
There is no corner of the world where God has abandoned God’s people, even when it is hard to see God in that place or among that group of people. Rachel reminds us that we will know the Spirit by recognizing the fruit of the Spirit: peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Today, we may honor Rachel Held Evans as we pray that we may keep seeking God and the fruit of the Spirit in every possible place, as we talk about it in community and write about it as much as possible.
Today, we are reminded of the Spirit so clearly seen in all those who cared for the sick during the pandemic, those who care for the dying, those who care for friends with cancer, those who care for the starving in Africa and Gaza, and those who care for children all over the world, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East. Continue to give them strength and courage.
Joanna. https://www.joannaseibert.com/
Bless you for supporting the ministry of our church and conference center, Camp Mitchell, on top of Petit Jean Mountain, by buying this book, A Daily Spiritual Rx for Lent and Easter, part of the daily series of writings for the liturgical year. If you like this book, could you briefly write a recommendation on its Amazon page? More thank-yous than I can say!!!
Joanna. joannaseibert.com