By Robin Linkhart, Council of Twelve Apostles

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.

Early in ministry with Seekers, I met Jordan. Barely 20 years old with fair skin and bright red hair, he was diagnosed with cancer at age six, then Type I diabetes. Much of his life had been spent in and out of hospitals. Eighteen months earlier his mother died, and his family split up. Now his cancer was back, and Jordan, a brilliant college student, was homeless. Grateful to be sleeping on a friend’s couch, he was still reeling from the trauma and frantic to get his cancer back into remission.

He'd accepted a friend’s invitation to visit us, but he was pretty sure the broken pieces of his life were too far gone to make things right with God. Instead, Jordan found the warm embrace of fellowship in our circle of fledgling Seekers and an open invitation to eat and drink at Christ’s table. It was his first step toward understanding the extravagant grace of God’s love.

In the weeks that followed we watched as this beautiful, fragile child of God blossomed and grew. On Mother’s Day, in memory of his mom, Jordan was baptized and confirmed. Right before his baptism he shared his story of transformation.

“Yesterday a friend reminded me how a butterfly begins as a tiny, vulnerable caterpillar, then grows into a beautiful butterfly. Today, this baptism is my new start, and I am receiving my spiritual shoes. I was baptized when I was eight, but I didn’t understand anything about God’s grace. Three things helped me learn. I made it back into remission. Friends took me in, believed in me, and helped me find myself. And I found you, Community of Christ. You made me a better person just being in my life, and I love you with all my heart. I now know the love of God, and I am not alone.”

We watched as this young man was lowered into the waters of baptism, then raised to begin life anew. Shedding the dry chrysalis and unfurling his wings, Jordan lived his butterfly moment—reconciled to God encircled by love and grace—a new creation.

Prayer Phrase

“Love does no wrong to a neighbor…” (Romans 13:10).

Spiritual Practice

Tears of Compassion

Offer a silent prayer for the gift of God’s compassion. Cup your hands and ask God to make you aware of the suffering that causes the Earth and its inhabitants to groan and weep. Be open to faces or places, sounds or voices, feelings of connection with those who suffer. Imagine catching the tears of those you see and holding them in your hands. Listen for prayer images or words God may give you. Discern any active responses of ministry or healing you sense invited to complete for those who weep.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.