"The Space Between"
Psalm 25:1-6 and Colossians 1:7-12
Yonce Shelton, Westmoreland UCC
July 13, 2025
When there is a monthly church Pub Theology night and practically no one shows up, you get to go deep with who does. Pete and I did that a few weeks ago – at our table for 10.
Pete said something about the worship service when I threw out beach balls. I shared with him that, just that week, I had an a-ha moment. I realized that my efforts to make church fun at key times stemmed from a goal I named as I began this role. That goal was to honor how the Gospel is about JOY – and that we need to lift that up as often as possible. It hit me a few days before that night with Pete that, somewhat unconsciously, I think, I knew that instead of saying the right things and getting you to flip the joy switch, I needed to find ways to do things to foster a spirit of fun that honors relationship with God. Beach balls, kids climbing the pulpit like a tree, swimming to Jesus with floaties and goggles.
And here’s another important awareness: I can create space and offer you chances to engage in certain ways, but that cannot be forced or manufactured. Things will happen because you are invited into something with a little education, opportunity, and support. You will choose to embrace a space or a unique way of being because it resonates and you trust something about my intent, your relationship with God, and respect for the power of community experience.
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In writing my sermon about play – which preceded the beach balls by a few minutes – I had the opportunity to simply go with the process and have fun. I could not have totally scripted that sermon or service until being in it. Today, I honor something a bit different. I recognize the need to also create space for struggle, uncertainty, and lack of control. As with joy, our scriptures invite engagement with the tough stuff of life. Words can only do so much to help you with that.
So today, I lean into a more contemplative approach; to listening; to trusting the space between our words and actions. I invite you to pray with space and silence.
Think about these questions: Does your approach to prayer include intentionally listening for God’s response? Do you create space to receive what God may offer?
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In the Call to Worship the Psalmist says: “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. … Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.”
Take some time in silence to sit with these words and to form a silent prayer for yourself – for yourself – as a way of lifting up your soul. Having named that prayer, take a few seconds to wait for God. And yes, these few seconds might feel like a whole day.
Now breathe. And trust that this is part of learning the path the Psalmist seeks.
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Now let's focus on today’s passage from Colossians to pray in the same way. Paul says “we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding … May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from [God’s] glorious power, so that you may have all endurance and patience.”
Take some time in silence to sit with these words and to form a silent prayer for someone else – this time for someone else, maybe some group of people – as a way of supporting understanding and strength for them.
Having named that prayer, take a few seconds to patiently wait for God. Trust that your continued focus on them and God matters.
Now breathe. And trust that this may help them with knowledge, endurance, and more.
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Paul’s theology “rests on an unwavering commitment to the fidelity and the efficacy of God's continuing self revelation. Knowledge of this activity … is transformational. … It is participation in a hope for salvation that entails a form of living visible in Christian communities anywhere the gospel is faithfully proclaimed.”1 God continues to make God’s self known to us in ways that transform. We have roles to play in that. Sometimes it's just to name and listen.
Part of my job is to proclaim the Gospel – and to remind you that we must always be open to transformation. But I don’t have to know everything. Deep Christian community also needs you to help. I can’t manufacture or manipulate to produce an end result. I can only invite. We need times when you enter the spaces between to visibly help proclaim the Gospel by trusting God’s presence. Spaces between words, knowing, and doing. We need communal times when we welcome God by making space. That space often needs to be measured in hours and more, not the seconds of today’s exercise.
A short practice like this today is just the tip of the iceberg. You can do this on your own, every day, wherever you may go, whatever you may face. It can become part of your very being – that transforms your relationship with God.
Amen.
