Called for More: The Grace to Begin Again

In our scripture reading this week, we meet Naaman, a powerful military commander from Aram, outside of Isarel. Naaman has influence, wealth, and the respect of those around him. Yet beneath all that success, he is carrying something he cannot fix. He has a skin disease, and no amount of power can make it disappear. 

Someone finds out about Naaman’s condition and tries to help him find healing. And that someone isn’t a king or a prophet. No, it’s a young Israelite girl who has been taken from her home and forced to be a servant in Naaman’s household.  

Why she chooses to speak is a bit of a mystery. And yet she does, offering the possibility of healing through a prophet in Israel. When Naaman finally reaches the prophet Elisha, things still don't go according to plan. Naaman is expecting something dramatic, some kind of impressive display of divine power. Instead, Elisha sends a messenger with a simple instruction: wash in the Jordan River seven times. 

Naaman is furious. Surely something so important should require something extraordinary! But once again, the servants of the household encourage him to see differently and tell him to set aside his expectations and simply try. When Naaman finally listens and steps into the water, he is healed. 

How often do we find ourselves in Naaman's shoes? We want change, but we want it on our terms. We pray for peace but struggle to release our need for control. We long for a more compassionate world but resist the small, everyday choices that compassion requires. 

So often God calls us toward what is right in front of us. It might be a conversation we've been avoiding. An apology we need to offer. A neighbor who could use some kindness. A willingness to reconsider something we thought we knew for certain. None of these things may seem extraordinary, but sometimes the most transformative acts of faith begin with the simplest steps. 

And perhaps this invitation is especially meaningful as we approach Election Day on November 3. In a season when differences can feel louder than the things we share, we are reminded that every person deserves to be treated with dignity. Participating in our democracy is one way we care for our neighbors and help shape the communities we share. So, make a plan to vote, listen thoughtfully, and remember those whose voices have too often been overlooked. Let us also pray for a safe election, for those who serve in the election process, and for the wisdom to continue caring for one another long after the votes are counted. Our call to love our neighbors doesn't begin or end at the ballot box. 

Jesus continually welcomes those pushed to the margins and challenges people to recognize their neighbors in unexpected places. And as people seeking to follow Christ, we are invited to do the same. Our faith reminds us to practice kindness, seek justice, protect one another’s dignity, and share in God's work of love in all that we do. 

That's part of what being Called for More looks like for us, too. The good news is that God's grace meets us wherever we are. Whether we are confident, uncertain, hopeful, or exhausted, God's invitation remains. There is more love to discover. Sometimes all it takes to begin is the courage to listen. 

Peace, 

Pastor Katie