Spiritual Perspectives:
Calls of The Spirit

By Elizabeth Windisch
Special to The Independent

As I begin to write this article, it may not be obvious where it is leading; even I am not often sure until the end.  Spirit led. I am writing about some things that have taken place in my life since my last article. Through these encounters, I hope that you understand the point of my journey in these next paragraphs.

A Call to Mercy — In March I went to Lady Lake, Fla. to celebrate my father's 90th birthday. My daughter and I flew in a day earlier than planned to take advantage of a discount fare.  We met my sister, who knew of our extra day, and she registered us to work with a FEMA clean-up crew in an area devastated by a tornado the week before.  It was a heart-wrenching and sobering experience as we cleaned up debris of a house — pieces of a kitchen sink, bathroom wall tile, broken pottery, metal fixtures that no one could recognize, and so much more. We worked alongside church groups from the area and AmeriCorps groups from Alaska, Wyoming, and Arizona.  We met one youth from Mexican Springs and another from Yatahey.  As we left the site that afternoon, we couldn't help but think that if the tornado, which claimed 14 lives, had taken a slightly different path, we might have been attending my father's funeral rather than celebrating another year of life.

A Call to Understand — With a long hot summer ahead, the Sunday youth teachers and I decided to use our community resources and let our  youth experience other faith traditions. Through visits to other churches and presentations by guest speakers, we all learned more about Judaism, Unitarians, The Society of Friends, Mennonites, and Christian Scientists.

A Call to Share — In September '06 I was chosen to present workshops on the theme "How to Walk Lightly on the Earth" at the Youth '07 United Methodist Church Conference in Greensboro, N.C. I knew I had been moved to accept this challenge and the Lord would help me find an activity that would motivate my workshop participants. The answer was close to home — indeed He sent two angels — Lorie and Dan Kennell.  Lorie, along with her daughter, Ellya, and fellow teen and church member, Emily Moore made the trek to Greensboro, N.C. as well.  Besides helping me with my power point presentation, Dan came from Pennsylvania to provide technical assistance, and with Lorie, led the art activity at the end of my talks.

A Call to Teach — Returning to Gallup, I turned my attention to Vacation Bible School the next week: "Lift Off! Soaring with God to New Heights!”  And we did!  Children, and youth and adult staff, lifted our voices in praise and song.  We soared to new heights in understanding God's goodness and greatness.

A Call to Seek — An invitation to attend The Chain of Being conference, sponsored by the Center for Action & Contemplation-Albuquerque, gave me a chance to hear from leaders in spiritual reflection who are environmentally progressive. To obtain peace within and seek a balance in the world around you, simplify your life so you can pick a passion.

A Call to Learn — It seems appropriate that the work of the Gallup Solar Project heats up over the summer. Though my involvement has been marginal, I have learned a lot about solar initiatives, political strategies, and community action.

A Call to Action — The First United Methodist Church recently invited the Rev. Felicia Hopkins of El Paso to lead a revival, "Fanning the Flames of Faith."  Her four sermons were inspiring and spiritually filled, but it was her first talk that has led me here.    In Chapter Five of the Gospel of John, Jesus is in Jerusalem on the Sabbath.  He enters through the Sheep Gate where there is a pool where many who are blind, lame, and who suffer from other maladies lie and wait for the waters to be stirred and then (with help from friends or family) are healed upon entering the water. Now, this one man had sat by the pool for 38 years! We do not know the whole story, but for Rev. Hopkins, you would think that in 38 years he would have made a friend who could have helped him. He could have inched his way closer and closer to the edge of the pool. He had lots of time — what did he do with it?  When Jesus meets him, he asks, "Do you want to get well?"  Even Jesus wasn't sure he wanted to get well.  But when the man says "yes," Jesus tells him to take some action: "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk."  Sometimes we need to "Get up!"  Jesus is there to help us, but we must want to make the journey.  Sitting around waiting is not what Jesus expects of His disciples.  Pick up your mat.

Elizabeth Windisch is the Christian Education Director for First United Methodist Church-Gallup. Contact her for more information about the following: Stewards of Creation Training Program at Ghost Ranch (September 7-9), McKinley Citizens' Recycling Council and recycling initiatives, and the Gallup Solar Project. Windisch can be contacted at (505) 863-4512.

This column is written by area residents, representing different faith communities, who share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues.

For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at The Independent: (505) 863-6811 ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.