Feelings

A few days ago I crawled into Mattie’s bed just as she was in the fresh stretch of waking from a nap. I had but a moment to savor her soft calm. It was great. I love those brief moments in life that call back to the past and laugh as if to arrogantly taunt trouble.

In those times I look at my children and I see beauty. I see peace. I see Joy. The peace and joy that can only grow within innocence. Joy that invites the hand of God. And the two dance.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” We have to become as little children in order to inherit the Kingdom of God. One of the qualities he saw in children must be the joy that infiltrates their activity. The grace that takes perch upon their heads.

As I reflected on Mattie’s temperament I was reminded of Joan Osborne’s hit, “What if God Was One of Us” and was struck with the candid truth revealed through the then controversial pop lyrics of the nineties. Mattie’s golden blonde curls didn’t help the matter any.

What if God is one of us? What if he’s Mattie? Not to take deity lightly, but he did send his son to walk around as a homeless rabbi. He also introduced the whole “Holy Spirit” and “Indwelling” concepts which Christ intertwines himself with personally in John 17 as he prays for unity. I’m just saying. I know from our worldview this sounds Buddhist or New Age, but take a look back through the B.I.B.L.E and you might find hints of the same. Granted – The Almighty Power of God - as well as the distinct entities of Jesus and The Spirit are nothing to mess with, but to understand deeply the mystery of unity I believe this to be a good illustration at worst.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…Love your neighbor as yourself”.

In some way this represents Christ as he states, “If you have done it to the least of these, then you have done it to me”.

So, I guess in an inexplicable way, not in person but in theory and illustration, Mattie is God. Or at the least I should treat her that way.

I should love her beyond all else, I should respect and assist her in all things. She should be my main purpose.

What about Samuel? What about Kaisha? That’s my point…

We are to put other’s needs way ahead of our own, just as we would put God’s needs way ahead of our own. So in becoming less selfish and more enlightened to the needs of others; we do in deed model Christ. And as we interpret others lives as some representation of God then we in fact become servants to all men.

We become the body of Christ and must act toward others as he did.

Later that night, Mattie came running into the room, where I was reclining, with her brother on her heals. I was somewhat distracted and snapped at them both. I told them to leave me alone and go to the playroom. I know, not very Fatherly. But here’s the point. Later, as I tucked Mattie into bed she said, “You hurt my feelings, Daddy.”

It was as if God himself told me that I hurt his feelings.

I am sure I hurt God’s feelings everyday.

I pray to see him everyday in everybody I relate with, so that I can cull this habit of hurting his feelings as well as the feelings of others.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

…You might very well be messing with the feelings of GOD.

Name

I went to an athletic awards ceremony recently and noticed a certain boy as he was called to the front. His name was called to denote his identity as well as to draw attention to the honor he was to receive. However, I saw a much higher honor denoted by the announcement of his name. You see, the boy of whom I refer is adopted.

He now bears the name of his adopted family. He now proceeds through life with a new identity. His name does not simply represent the identity of his self only, but also allows insight into the heart of his new family. His name represents his adoption into a family that willingly opened their arms with love to allow him a place. He has been accepted for who he is, however now grows under the influence of who he will become. His name represents so much more than his self alone.

I wonder. Has my name changed? Have I taken on the name of Jesus? When there is an announcement in the heavens do the angels here my name and cringe? Or does the resounding glory of Christ Jesus so echo through eternity that the entirety of my identity is encompassed within his name?

Paul reminds the Ephesians –

“In love he (God) predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” Ephesians 1:5-6

Christ has made known to us the name of his Father in Heaven. So that we may come to know the Father just as Christ knows the Father and that we may love Jesus just as God loves Jesus. So that Jesus may dwell in us, so that we may dwell in him, so that we all can be one.

Have I fully taken on the name of Christ? Do I savor the relationship his name denotes?

Have I truly ceased to exist as individual? Do I find abundant life in Jesus? Does his acceptance of me absolutely complete all my desires?

I pray for the grace of God to so surround us that we no longer see each other; but Christ only.

Love

Jesus prays.

“I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.".” John 17:26

Devine love requested for us, by the fulfillment of Love itself, Jesus.

So powerful is the work of creation, so passionate the growth of relationship, so intense the need for communication; and yet it has been offered to us, through Jesus.

Lord, through the mystery of the Holy Spirit teach us your Love.

We also pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us”. Matthew 6

Lord, grant us your heart so that we can freely give your heart to others. Perfect our ability to forgive so that we can share in the forgiveness offered by your Son.

Patience

Driving the kids to school this morning was particularly quiet. No screaming, no whining, no singing, no giggling: simply wonderful appreciated silence. In addition to the norm a slight mist of rain brushing the windshield coxed me into a sleepy trance. Peaceful calm.

Then, out of nowhere my son, Samuel, announces,

“You’ve got to be patient, Daddy.”

“You know, when teacher is giving out food and drink, you’ve got to be patient.”

What truth pouring out of a four year old’s mouth. “You’ve got to be patient.”

Amen. Good talk.

I am often not patient with my Teacher. The Lord promises that he will never leave me nor forsake me. He also shows me the lilies of the field and the birds of the air and asks of their worry? If the Lord takes care of the world and will never leave me, then why am I so impatient? My food and my drink are on the way. The Lord has provided.

Lord, I pray you allow me peace in knowing that you will always be there and all you have planned will fruit in its own season. Lord, help me to be still and know that you are God. Teach me patience. Teach me faith. Teach me love. Amen.

Relationship

Relationship is vital in the encouragement of unity within a group - a group of two or a group of seventy two. Relationship can not be analysed logically or rationally with any real merit. For relationship seems to be found more in the realm of artistic flow.

Ask a writer about inspiration, ask a painter about muse, ask a chef about the process and you will find that most passions in life resonate from one's existence outward, not from the rationally accepted "Group Think" inward. These "Few", seem to marinate in an organic growth that ignites their zeal. Their fervor cannot be compartmentalized into any one specific reason or even groups of reasons approved or unapproved by the outside. They have indeed harnessed the gift of losing themselves in the harmony of the present. They are effected by the past, however only enough to fulfil the present. The may acknowledge the future but for the moment they are enslaved to the real. They do not acknowledge the theoretical.

Now, how is their dance translated into relationships?

Well, experiences shape our lives and assist in defining our passions. Our experiences fruit the interests in our lives that then find their expression in our present countenance and demeanor. If one enjoys family, then the other will see this truth permeating outward. If one loves solitude then evidence will be apparent. If one thrives on competition, all observers will be able to deduct this trait.

These mannerisms discussed are our advertisements, if you will, to our inner passions or desires. These advertisements allow others to pick and choose weather or not relationship is viable. These advertisements convey weather or not we are a writer, painter, or chef.

Are two people going to click? Watch their 30 second interactions and you will begin to scrape the surface on their relationability. Watch their lifelong spontaneous connections and you will begin to taste their specific flavor, their composition, their song.

People are not for consumption only - Please do not attempt relationship for some egotistical benefit - This attempt will be a perversion of what truly is possible...

People, although relatively plain, are made for much grander purpose. C. S. Lewis states this fact wonderfully in - The Weight of Glory.

"It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would strongly be tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal."

The relationships that we cultivate now in this present world will follow us into the next. The Spirit will survive - the ego will not. Learn your own spirit so that you can advertise appropriately. Learn others so that unity will flourish. There are no common men, simply common relationships.

Freedom

Pierce My Ear-

Pierce my ear, O Lord, my God.
Take me to Your door this day.
I will serve no other god.
Lord, I'm here to stay.

For You have paid the price for me.
With Your blood You ransomed me.
I will serve You eternally.
A free man I'll never be.

Steve Croft


I tasted this song anew Sunday when I was enlightened concerning its origins or muse if you will.

From Exodus 21: 2-6

"When you buy a slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out alone.

But if the slave plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,' Then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever."

Free will declaration of love for ones master along with love for ones wife and children. Sounds a lot like:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22: 37-39

Pierce my ear!

"Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin"
Jesus - John 8

I chose to be a slave to God.

"The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever"
Jesus - John 8

"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God"
Romans 8

"For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith"
Galatians 3

Through Spirit and Faith in Christ grant me sonship, oh Lord.

I fear not the blazing fire and darkness of sin and death, but I have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God where the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free.
Hebrew 12

Freedom I find in you, Lord. You only.
Set my mind on the Spirit. So that I may attain life and peace.

Shekhinah

Shekhinah – The Holy Presence of God, The Glory, The Spirit. Attendance - that can be felt, tasted, heard, smelt, and seen. Oh, how glorious is God - that indwells our very souls. What a magnificent interaction of Spirit and body.

Samuel and Mattie love to help. They love to be involved. They love to be needed. Being Spring, we recently began the cultivation of our garden. And in this process, Kaisha and I decided to allow the kids to plant seeds of their own. We where advised of the fast germination of radishes to reveal quick growth to children. Great advice! No more than 4 days after we first submersed the seeds into soil did we have some action.

With honor, we witnessed small shoots of green reach into the air attempting escape from the very dirt in which their roots and fruit will soon be immersed. This miracle of life echoed back it's immense power and complex beauty with broad smiles and mischievous giggles.

This breathtaking observance of God reaching in and touching my children was made ever richer by their own reply.

Their relationship with eternity has already begun.

Joy puddles under my eyes.

Brilliance of life seeps into every moment - as if to whisper the very essence of the Divine.