August 4, 2023

Kairos and Metanoia

In Greek mythology, Kairos was the God of opportunity. He was depicted as having long hair near this forehead, and no hair on the back of his head. The reason is that as he approached, people were to grab on to his hair so as not to miss the opportunities he would afford them. If he went past, there was nothing to grab hold onto and the opportunity was lost. Following him was Metanoia, a woman of shadows who brought regret to those who missed the opportunity that had just passed them by.

When you read this, I will have been home for a few days. While I was gone, I visited family and friends, most of whom I have not seen recently—or some not even seen in the recent past. I met with people whose health has declined as their age has increased. I met many who had recently retired. I met with some who wished to retire but could not. Yet in all of those conversations, I found a common thread, that of assessing the arc of one’s life, from successes to regrets, from opportunities taken to opportunities lost. Some had grasped hold of Kairos’ hair as he approached, seizing the opportunity while it was present, while others watched opportunities go swiftly by, receiving the regret of “what if” that took those opportunities’ place. And for others they grabbed hold what they thought was a Kairos moment, only to have the possibilities they hoped for in making that choice fail to come to fruition.

Metanoia is a term in the New Testament that is a bit different from regret. It is the response of repentance, of an about-face change. It describes the Jewish people, who had called for Jesus’ crucifixion, being baptized in his name at Pentecost and after. It describes Gentiles leaving their gods and finding faith in one God through Christ in the Holy Spirit. Metanoia leads to new life in Christ. (See 1 Peter 1:3-10)

For me, metanoia is the hope that nothing, neither opportunities missed nor choices made that did not go well, are beyond redemption. In Christ, no one or no thing is beyond the redeeming grace of God. This is not only the hope of our lives, but the hope of our world and its history.

No matter how well or how poorly things have gone or are turning out, it/they can be redeemed. May this promise give us all a perspective of hope in these sometimes chaotic days in our lives and in our world. As Jesus said in John (16:33) “I have said this to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!”

With audacious hope,

~ Pastor Todd