Making Things New

A Fourth Day article.

"Behold, I make all things new again," scripture tells us about the transformative power of God. That was certainly the case for me this past February, serving on the team of a recent Cursillo weekend. From an eager, wide-eyed participant almost twenty years ago (#12), through years of support and team participation, to other years of inactive apathy, was a long journey. It was a journey toward cynicism, a journey toward seeing the Cursillo method through jaded eyes, of coming to the place where I dismissed the experience as just a contrived "emotional high." Cursillo seemed so "canned", so predictable, so manipulative. I stopped grouping. I rarely attended Ultreyas. I only went to closings when I felt obligated to do so. It seemed to me that so much had changed over the past twenty years. Does this sound like you? Have you, in the words of the book of Revelation to the church in Ephesus, " ... forsaken your first love?"

In reality, it was only I who had changed. The Cursillo method has been rolling along the whole time, those same twenty years, touching and changing lives, raising up and empowering leaders for the Body of Christ, celebrating the power and Grace of Jesus Christ. The small groups were there the whole time. The Ultreyas were there every month. The prayers were offered the whole time. The palanca was written, year in and year out. The talks were prepared and spoken each time there was a need. And God was there in the midst of it all. I sometimes wonder where I was.

But the neatest thing about God's Grace is that it breaks in upon you, it surprises you when you least expect it. "Behold, I make all things new again." God truly delights in making the old new, in making the jaded fresh and alive again. God delights in taking that which is most broken, most scattered, and then gathering it all up and binding it together again. The call to serve came. I said in my heart, "Well, I'll try this just one last time."

And the healing began — Lots of healing. What a transformative experience to see the mighty power of God touch so many people, pour healing oil on so many old wounds, offer hope to so many people seeking to find God more deeply in their lives. The healing began long before the weekend, and it continues even today as the prayers and E-mails continue to rattle back and forth.

Cursillo is about growth. It's about becoming mature adults in Christ. It is about getting grounded with a bag of tools which are designed to keep a person from falling into the apathy into which I had landed. It is about challenge and knowledge. But most of all, Cursillo is about healing. Are you Like I was? Have you given up on Cursillo? Do you need some healing? Don't despair. Don't give up. God is working still. You may get a call to serve. It may come from a friend. It may come from God. There are so many ways to plug back in. Join a small group. Come to an Ultreya. Mark the closing dates on your calendar. Sponsor a friend. Write a piece of palanca. Say a prayer. Draw a placemat. Allow God to " ... make all things new again."

Bob Chiles, Rector
St. David's Columbia

1115 Marion Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201 | 803-771-7800