Pastor’s Pen for issue date March 7th, 2012
By Brent Woodard from the United Church
Vulnerability and the Way of the Cross
People who seek to follow the way of Jesus through the Christian tradition are
now in the season of Lent. Lent is a period of 40 days (less Sundays) before Easter.
Primarily Lent is a season to consider what it means to follow Jesus in the way of the
cross. Jesus did not say “Let me take up the cross on your behalf and die for you.” No,
Jesus said “If you want to follow me, take up the cross and join me.” This is a
challenging invitation. The idea is, if we lose ourselves we will find ourselves. If we
surrender, let go, and die, we will find life. What does this mean?
It seems to me a key word for understanding the way of the cross is
“vulnerability.” To be honest, a part of us does not want to be vulnerable, which is easy
to understand. Perhaps we have been hurt in childhood and we don’t feel safe being
vulnerable. Perhaps life on this planet is inevitably insecure and chaotic, and so it is
natural not to want to be vulnerable. Without knowing it we put up defensive walls, we
close off emotions, we deny our needs, and we project our fears onto other people. These
are all attempts to be in control. We think, unconsciously, that as long as we are in
control, we will protect ourselves from being hurt. Control comes in many forms – being
good, being mean, keeping a lid on things, having money or possessions, being a
“superpower,” adhering to a set of dogmas or beliefs that make vulnerability tolerable by
explaining it away.
The way of the world, or the way of the ego, says, “protect yourself, don’t show
your weakness, consider people your enemies, and then you will be okay.”
Beyond the enormous personal cost, human survival on this planet is in danger
because of people trying to be less vulnerable. Military spending, homeland security
issues, environmental degradation, and economic structures are fueled by the desire for
invulnerability. The inability to “lose ourselves” is going to “kill ourselves.”
When Jesus offers the way of the cross, it truly is “salvific” for individuals and for
the world. As Miriam Greenspan says in her book, “Healing Through the Dark
Emotions,” “There is power in vulnerability. Vulnerability is not just about hurting, it is
about openness. Not only to pain, but also to love, joy, intimacy and wonder; to being
touched by another human being, being truly seen for who we are; to the adventure of
being alive; to the sacred spirit that imbues the world.”
What does it mean to become vulnerable? It means to let go and surrender. It
means to die to that part in ourselves that seeks protection and control. It means to be
open to all of who we are; all our feelings, all our temptations, all our imperfections, all
of our humanity. The power of no protection is a spiritual power. As Greenspan says,
“We are not here to be free of pain. We are here to have our hearts broken by life. To
learn to live with vulnerability and to turn pain into love.” This may be the invitation
Jesus gave in the way of the cross.