This morning’s reading is from 2 Corinthians 3 and Paul is laying out the freedom that comes when you aren’t under The Law – of course, that’s the Mosaic Law. No one is able to keep the law, therefore we are condemned by it. And without Christ, we are unable to see this truth.

Here’s how he finishes this section:

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

When the Lord Jesus guides our lives, He brings us more and more into His likeness. No quick process I might add, no magic snapping of fingers, but a slow and gentle change of our “held beliefs” or “positions” until we become LIKE HIM. Will we get their entirely in this life – not a chance, but our willingness to be obedient will bring us closer, and where we insist on resisting, well little progress can be made.

This free will, given to us, and done so in love by God, means that we get to choose. And our choices matter.

So I’ve been asking myself this morning, what needs changing or smoothing out in my life? What submission has not been made? There’s room in all our lives for change. How will we hear The Spirit of God today?

Today I awake in Toronto, hoping that I didn’t pick up any illness on the plane yesterday. I wouldn’t say I live in fear of these things but knowing how easily viruses and germs spread among us I did think about it. I only saw one person with a mask on.

I’m back in Toronto for meetings related to the new job/role. I admit some divided-ness in my taking on this role. I’ve enjoyed the freedom of the past year and being able to be free from travel, especially airlines and hotels. I’ve done enough of that to last a lifetime.

So I’m asking questions about this new role. The one thing you have to figure out quickly anytime you start in a new role, and in this case, a world I’ve lived near not in, is how are things done? How are decisions made? How do I understand my role in this team?

Much to learn about that – the systems, the culture, the structure is familiar. Should be fun.

There’s that word again – should!

So here too is some self-reflection and growth.