I wrote "What Anna Teaches Us: Thanks for letting me confuse you ... in 2002" to a mailing list that got my daily readings; this included a combination of church members and others who had been introduced to my work. I sent it out on the last day of the year. The Message is timeless, so I offer it here over a decade later. I have given the Scripture as a lead in to the writing.
There was a very old prophet, a widow named Anna, daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She had been married for only seven years and was now eighty-four years old. She never left the Temple; day and night she worshiped God, fasting and praying. That very same hour she arrived and gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were waiting for God to set Jerusalem free.
*Gospel of Luke 2.36-38 (GNT)
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My lectio divina today leads me to the Luke passage about the prophet Anna. She is a woman that many would think disadvantaged, but she does not esteem herself according to such popular standards. Yes, many would have, then - and now - judged her to have an insignificant, even wasted, life. But what a wonderfully wasted life!
This woman, who was married when younger, had her husband die after only seven years of marriage. Now, she is old, especially for her time - over eighty. She has devoted her life to God, for she prays night and day in the temple area and fasts often. She recognizes the meaning of Jesus when Mary and Joseph take the young boy to the temple. So, she enters the temple area praising God and shares with all who will listen about this little boy.
Yes, Anna reminds us of those who "waste" their lives for love of God. They have little, if any, interest in popular standards of success. These persons can love all, for they daily live in communion with the All. Like Anna, these "prophets" see what others do not see and share what they see with whomever will give an ear. These men and women keep sharing, sowing the seed of enlightenment to a minority ready to hear.
Anna, a man-less woman in a world of the men, a prophetess in a world filled with man prophets, found her heart captured by a greater Love Affair, she saw what others did not see, and she praised God.
Now, how many of us would be happier and more at peace if we would give up as much as Anna to get all she got, see all she saw, and share all she shared with others? Maybe, Anna reminds us that what is so important to us is usually not much of importance at all. Possibly, Anna reminds us that we are only able to love God well and maturely when we are as detached as Anna from what others esteem as of value. Possibly, Anna reminds us that he or she who does not spend much time with God has little to say about or for God.
Last, as a pastor and spiritual teacher, Anna reminds me of the importance of spiritual leaders devoting themselves, with much time, to communion with God. Frankly, generally speaking, being like an Anna is not what denominational leaders and church leaders find impressive about pastors. But, I am able to put forth the sermons, seminars, and writings I do only because of my immersing myself in communion with Love. I am not much interested in pleasing people, but I am interested in seeing Something and having that to share with the few that will listen and can listen.
I am grateful you have listened in 2002; I trust you have heard - for the two are different. She who hears much may or may not realize a thing; she who hears little can still realize much. So, if I say or do something that makes you uncomfortable and confused enough to realize more, then I praise God for that and pray that I will have the grace to continue doing that in love.
*Use of photography is allowed accompanied by credit given to Brian K. Wilcox and title and place of photographs.
*Brian's book, An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major online booksellers or the publisher AuthorHouse.
