Luminous Veils

Focus Statement

In the wilderness of our pain, God meets us,

transforming our darkest moments into radiant encounters of divine glory.

Point of Relation

Remember “The Shack”?

That movie based on William P. Young’s bestselling novel?

It’s about Mack Phillips, a guy whose world shatters when his daughter Missy is murdered during a family camping trip.

Talk about a gut punch to the faith, right?

Mack’s left drowning in what he calls “The Great Sadness.”

But then, out of the blue,

he gets this weird invite to the very shack where they found evidence of Missy’s murder.

The kicker? It’s signed “Papa” - his wife’s pet name for God.

Mack, thinking he’s lost his marbles, actually goes.

What happens next is a mind-bending encounter with the divine

that challenges everything Mack thought he knew about God.

Over one transformative weekend,

he’s forced to wrestle with all the big questions -

why God lets bad stuff happen, how to forgive the unforgivable, and what healing looks like when your heart’s in pieces.

Like Moses coming down from his divine encounter on Sinai,

Mack emerges from that shack changed.

His face might not be glowing, but his heart sure is.

That shack, once a symbol of his darkest nightmare, becomes holy ground -

a place of transformation.

Things to Consider

As we gear up for Lent, pause at this transformation trailhead.

What veils are you still wearing?

How might God be calling you to shine?

Remember, change often happens gradually -

are you noticing the subtle shifts in your spiritual journey?

Consider the people around you - how can you reflect God’s light in your interactions?

As Moses’ face radiated after divine encounters,

how might your life radiate after spending time with God this Lenten season?

What Scripture Says

As we stand at the trailhead of our Lenten journey,

Exodus 34 offers us a startling sight: Moses,

descending from Mount Sinai, his face radiant from his encounter with God.

It’s as if our trail guide has returned from scouting ahead,

but he’s glowing like he’s swallowed a flashlight.

The Israelites’ reaction? Pure shock.

They’re backing away like hikers spotting a black bear with an opened keg of Coca-Cola on the path.

Moses, oblivious to his own luminescence, has to call them over.

It’s a powerful reminder that encountering God can change us in ways we might not even realize.

To ease their fear, Moses introduces a curious practice -

veiling his face when he’s not speaking God’s words.

It’s like he’s packing away his headlamp between uses,

only letting that divine radiance shine when he’s relaying heavenly messages.

This back-and-forth between veiled and unveiled becomes a pattern,

symbolizing the ebb and flow of divine revelation.

It’s a bit like how the sun plays peek-a-boo through

the trees on a forest trail,

reminding us of its constant presence even when we can’t see it directly.

Paul, in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18,

unpacks this moment for us trail-blazers heading into Lent.

He declares, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

It’s as if Paul’s saying,

“Folks, we don’t need the veil anymore. We’re all invited to this divine glow-up!”

As we lace up our boots for the Lenten wilderness,

these passages remind us that our journey isn’t just about trudging through tough terrain.

It’s about being transformed by our encounters with God, letting that divine radiance seep into our very being.

We’re not just hiking;

we’re being changed with “ever-increasing glory” as we walk this path.

What This Means For You

As Lent approaches, imagine standing at your personal Mount Sinai.

God’s not asking for a glowing face,

but for you to reflect divine light uniquely.

It might be patience replacing anger, or courage overcoming fear.

This isn’t about perfection, but progress.

No veil needed - let God’s work shine through you.

Your divine encounters may not be as dramatic as Moses’,

but they’re just as transformative.

Pack light, make room for grace, and prepare for your own holy glow-up.

What This Means For Us

As a community, we’re stepping into Lent together.

Like the Israelites, we’re witnesses to God’s transforming power.

But we’re also participants.

Let’s be a congregation of glowing faces, each reflecting God’s glory uniquely.

During this season, let’s point out the divine light growing in each other.

We can make our church a beacon

where God’s radiance shines through our words, actions, and love.

Let’s be a community that doesn’t just witness transformation,

but embodies it. Amen? Amen.

Written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI.