From the Heart

In a couple weeks members and friends of the United Methodist Church will celebrate Aldersgate Sunday. Aldersgate is a street in London; just an average ordinary street. Yet this street is remembered because it was there, 283 years ago, that John Wesley felt his heart strangely warmed. He knew in his soul that he was loved and forgiven. I suppose he always knew in his head that God loved him. But that 18 inch trip from head to the heart is the longest spiritual journey we ever take.

Spiritual knowing, true knowing takes place in the heart. This knowing is like the peace that passes all human understanding. The mind, of course, wants to explain the heart being strangely warmed; it wants to define it, contain it – and forgive us, even control it. The mysteries of God and the Holy Spirit are to be embraced, pondered, surrendered to, and loved.

I find it interesting that we celebrate and recognize the street where John Wesley encountered the risen Christ in a new and powerful way. After all, it would be just as appropriate to call this Heart Sunday. But the place, Aldersgate Street, points a finger in time and space to make real the experience for all those who have joined the movement. And, in so doing, we have our own Aldersgate experiences. For some it was an altar call, for others it was tearful prayer at our bedside, and for some, even a prison cell. The Aldersgate experience is our heart saying yes to Jesus. Just like Mary’s Yes. The first yes is followed by a lifetime of yeses; of baptism and communion, leading to personal piety and practical divinity.

The United Methodist Church sprang from a street in London, but for the movement to continue hearts need to be softened and warmed by the Holy Spirit. In addition to our home church, we need to invest in our camps and retreat centers as well as “Walk to Emmaus,” because those places represent the Aldersgate Streets in our time. It is there, sitting around a campfire or at table conversation, that hearts are warmed, and the word yes is spoken – perhaps for the first time.