This little guy lives on my deck.
I just watched him eat a bug.
He doesn't know there is a war half way around the world.
He doesn't know there is peace here.
(He may know there is peace. Seems like he would.)
He sits in the sun. I sit in the sun.
And here we are together.
Each one created for a purpose
Like us, like you
Small (malen'kiy) little
What do you do but stand by the water's edge and reach up to the sky
That is enough
It's good eventually.
But that night maybe they couldn't see it. Maybe when the sky went dark and
the curtain in the temple tore in two, they could not imagine that it was good.
Maybe when the ground shook they shook too. Are you shaking?
And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
Luke 22:14-20
Created
For a purpose and a plan
Even if you look at everything but God
I was ready to be found by those not looking for me.
Did you know Jesus said that
About you
For you
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!
Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalm 126
The world was changing subtly. While turmoil filled the skies, small movements were taking place on the ground. A kingdom there, a governor or clerk, a dynasty, all falling like water down a drain. Each one held a peg, and as they fell, everything changed. We looked around like we had never seen color before, felt the sun on our faces like it had never shone. The clouds had parted. The ground had stopped shaking. All was still.
Now what? Now we dance.
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life. The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
“I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.”
Psalm 119:121
Have you done what is just and right?
Does God ever rescue you if you haven't?
I think so.
The Nazarene freed me. He said he would do it and he did. I had been in the cave a long, long time. Each twist and turn was known to me. The 'tites hang down and threatened me. The 'mites sprang up and blocked my path. I had tried this. And that.
The Nazarene entered the cave. How, I do not know. He told me I'd be free. I couldn't see how, but the words were sweet and gave me hope. He led me, both this way, which I had tried, and that. I thought I knew better and broke away to head in another direction. He followed me. I climbed. Searched. Looked. Studied. All I found was another cave, and another, and another.
"I will set you free," said the Nazarene.
How, I did not know.
"Follow me," He said.
And I did.
We took a path I had never known, though I'd crossed it many times. Through darkness, which was no longer dark to me. Up. Down. Over. I had been deep inside that cave.
"This can't be the way," I said, certain.
"Trust me."
And I did.
Then, as surely as I had entered, I stepped out. The sun met me as the Son held me. I couldn't see in the bright light until my eyes adjusted and my heart returned to its natural size. I took a breath, of life. The Nazarene said He would set me free.
And He did.
