Reflection: Around the Curve

Around the Curve

The future is always just beyond what we can see, but Jesus is our constant companion on the journey.

By Jan Hill, New Brighton, Minnesota, USA

Once I sat in the center of the Temple in Independence, Missouri, USA and looked into the interior of the spire. Upward and upward I looked, trying to see the top and tracing its inside circumference around and around. Every round went higher and higher until I could see no further, and I knew I still had not glimpsed the top. It was impossible to see from where I was sitting.

It made me think of this journey we’re on. We keep to the upward path, following it through our various experiences in life. Sometimes we find that we’ve already been ’round this way before, but the future is still just beyond us. At some point, we realize that it’s the journey that matters.

Our congregation, and maybe many others like us, are on one of these go-rounds. We’ve been here before, trying to determine what our mission is and should be, and how and where we should go. But we realize that we are in a different place this time. The circumstances are different. The scenery has changed.

We’ve been apart for over a year, and the distances between us might have widened, and other relationships might have formed. For congregations, the most difficult part of the pandemic still might be ahead as we try to determine how and whether to be a physically gathered community again. What will that look like in this new day and age?

We long to know what’s ahead, so we keep our eyes on the horizon as we move around and upward, nearer to the peace of Jesus Christ. But Jesus is not just up there somewhere around the curve that we cannot see. Jesus moves with us in all the circumstances of our journey.

Jan Hill lives in New Brighton, Minnesota, USA. She serves in the Minneapolis congregation as an elder, musician, and worship coordinator. She enjoys gardening and homemaking.

We are dancing in a circle, Arms stretched wide as far as they can go, Heads thrown back and laughter bubbling, Rainbow colors splashing through. The morn is fresh. Our feet cannot be still.

We are walking by the water, Bare feet making imprints on the sand. Salty mist sweeps past our faces, Leaving teardrops on our cheeks. The fog is gray. Our eyes cannot see through.

We are climbing on the mountain, Fingers grasping for a place to hold, Canyons deep yawn all about us, Echoing our labored breath. The rocks are hard. Our hands cannot hold tight.

We are singing by the firelight, Voices softly blending in the dark. Ancient stars hang from black velvet, Calling outward and beyond. The fire is bright. Our hearts cannot be cold.

We are dancing in a circle, Moving to life’s ever-changing beat. We are dancing all together, Coming back to where we’ve been.

Jesus always dances with us, Moving with us as we circle ’round, Lifting upward, always higher, Spiral to the heart of God.

— Jan Hill

ONLINE EVENT TO HIGHLIGHT ROLE OF PEACE

An online Taizé worship is planned October 2 to highlight the International Day of Non-Violence, a United Nations observance.

This reflective, music-centered worship offers an opportunity to consider Community of Christ’s calling to create a world of peace and justice for all people.

This experience will be streamed and later available as a resource to watch online. More details will be available through the Community of Christ website and social media.

LIFT UP YOUR EYES AND FIX THEM ON THE PLACE BEYOND THE HORIZON TO WHICH YOU ARE SENT. JOURNEY IN TRUST, ASSURED THAT THE GREAT AND MARVELOUS WORK IS FOR THIS TIME AND FOR ALL TIME. — DOCTRINE & COVENANTS 161:1A