My name is Legion

And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea.

I have been searching our new home for days. I had taken possession of the wedding invitations that my daughter Ariel had purchased, right before we moved. I was sure I put them in a safe place. I even remember commenting that where I put them was going to be very easy to find. That was the day befroe the move. Now, a month later, they were no where to be found. I searched the attic with no luck. The garage and basement likewise. All throughout this large and splendid I opened boxes, dug through closets and bins.Nothing. I felt like a woman tormented and was afraid my daughter would never forgive me.

I finally called her yesterday and found out where she got them. Then I went to that store, they have one near our new home, and found them after searching for a while. I felt like I had been released from prison, free from the shackles of my huge failing, from my huge mistakes, from the demons of failure that were swirling around. For a moment I understood the man who Jesus cured of demons. He was in his right mind finally, and so was I.

Today I want to live every moment understanding that Jesus can intervene even when I have created a terrible mess. Even when the mess is of my own making. Jesus is willing to be in the midst of our ugliest disasters. Jesus is willing and able to be in the midst of the legions of disasters and demons we create for ourselves. May we all go forward today, asking Jesus to help us throw off the burdens of guilt and shame we are carrying. The burden that sends us away from those we love and from community because of our shame. May we know that Jesus will come to our wilderness and restore us, body, mind and soul.