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.

Called out

While in the process of preparing my family for church this past Sunday morning I was, for lack of a better phrase, “Called out”. It was my loving wife who thought necessary to put me in my place.

As she entered the room, in which I sat, she declared a household “State of Emergency” and requested further assistance in the process.

You see, we start a shouting match of sorts just about the second we roll out of bed in the morning.

I parade through the house giving the official countdown to the precise moment in which we need to be leaving the driveway. Mind you an extra few minutes are always factored in for locking the door, actually making it to the car (a number of distractions can and do prolong this process when one is orchestrating a chorus of two and four year olds), and for the buckling in of the children. Usually a spare minute is also included for re-entry of the home in order to retrieve a forgotten item: possibly a bible, a few diapers, maybe a cherished baby doll or Spiderman action figure.

The countdown or shouting match includes “Ten minutes, Five minutes, Two minutes…we should have been in the car Two minutes ago, Five minutes ago, Ten minutes ago.” This has become such a routine that we in fact will over emphasis where we are in the process. “I’ve got the kids, I’ve the got the keys, I’m in the car”, when in fact we are not yet out of the shower.

All this said I hold additional habits in the morning which generally include the reading of a brief excerpt from some random source of literature. This was my position as Kaisha entered the room. I may have even yelled back through the hallway that we had only a few minutes left or that I was in the car; just before she found me seated, perusing a book.

“If you would stop reading and get out here and help, this would go a lot smoother.”
Kaisha pronounced.

Fantastic unbeknownst truth flew in and slapped my face broadside. (Figuratively of course; Kaisha in no way abused me this past Sunday)

How often do we get caught up in praying, meditating, reading, analyzing God and his Word. We may morph this process into small group settings of bible “Study” or "Corporate worship and prayer" and claim action or works since we include others in the process. (I in no way wish to examine these practices as incomplete or wrong. I, in fact, proclaim the deepening of spiritual growth, reasoning, and understanding as my forte which is found not only in logical and rational analysis but also in spiritual and emotional experience.)

BUT

What about real action? What about missional growth and service to our communities? What about evangelism? What would happen if we made time to stop reading and help a little? I believe the question as well as the answer is found in the above story. This Kingdom of God - would go a lot smoother.

We are charged to cloth the poor and feed the hungry.

“Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do the same." Luke 3:11

We are commanded to share the gospel to the world.

“Go into the entire world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15

There is much righteousness to be found in the pursuit of holiness and prayerful mediation of the scriptures, but there also is great faith to be found and given, in the carrying out of the practical works shown to us by Jesus. Take a moment to read (and I do ask for a stay on the irony here) any one of the gospels and you will see that Jesus was a man of action. He knew the scriptures and he spent time in prayer, but his actions seem to get the most acclaim.

Somehow we are to change our pattern of simple holy living and bring Christ to the streets. We need to not only bring people to church but we need to take the Church to people.

A Certain Place

There is a certain place I frequent to walk arm in arm with our Lord.

At this place the Glory of God shines down and sparkles reflection on the living waters of creation. At this place I witness the light of Jesus echo to God through men.

I approach evidence of burnt offering. I smell the aroma of blood and sacrifice . Obedience to soften the wrath of God.

I look to the left upon views of pain. Frustrated chaos grows. There is no respect for the Maker there.

I look to the right to find the mercy seat of GOD. I approach. I ask for the Son of God to yield his sword and cut to the marrow that separates my goat from my sheep, my evil from my good, my hell from my view of Glory. I ask for the quickened Word to penetrate my being and teach me of Grace and Love.

I then turn from the sight of God and see a tree. A tree that was once crooked, but is now straightened. I weep. I am the tree. I was broken and dead. But, now through trembling, through fire, through the grace and love of Christ I am made straight.

Walking further to the right I see an alter built of stone. A perfect circle. I am glad. I am impressed. But, this alter does not shine the Glory of God. It shines the Glory of men. I am lost once more. I turn away.

The illumination of God has not ceased. Glory remains. The light shines down. In the distance seagulls cry. I recall Christ’s words "If they do not, then these very stones will cry out to me".

I again am made able to see. I am refreshed once more. I walk to the Bema and fall, requesting the mercy that is offered.

I walk anew and am filled with Joy. My heart sings as I leave the Glory, but for a short time, in order to bring many men back to this place.

A walk

I came across the below murmurings which apparently I composed 11/05/2007.


I took a walk with God this morn, in hopes of love and joy
I have been walking in this manner, since I was just a boy

I regret the wrongs I do commit, I wish for guidance more
And when my judgment comes, one day, I’m sure the Lord be torn

For there are days that I cannot quench, my indwell’n spirit’s thirst
And then there are the other days filled with horrid evil bursts

I pray that I could walk the path, of the pure and of the right
But then I fall once more as I begin to let God out of my sight

My soul’s fate, continues to remain in the Savior’s blood
Praise God for this or I would be doomed, to rot in eternal mud.

Thirst

I was told of a story this morning concerning the search for a gas station. My guide in the tale was referring to her experience of nearly running out of gas. Her vehicle was indeed running on fumes as her thoughts focused solely on attaining fuel. Liken to the parable of the widow that searched all over for her lost coin or the shepard looking for his wandering sheep she continued her narrative. However, the perspective portrayed was reversed. The idea was not of how God looks for his called, but how his called look for him.

The teller of the story emphasized the desperate need to find gas and paralleled the experience to how when we are in need of God we are parched with thirst. We desire God to the point that if we do not find him somewhere and soon, we will run out of fuel. We will stop. There will be no more movement in our life until we find that living water of God.

Reminds one of David's prose “As the deer panteth for flowing streams of water, so pants my soul for you, O God.” Psalms 42

How filling is the constant hunger and thirst of righteousness. How wonderful is the pursuit. There is joy not only at the conclusion of such a search but glory to be felt in the quest itself.
Bask, my friend, in the light that makes clear the path and savor your time. The destination and the journey are indeed united in embrace.

Vision?

To date I have not completely formed my personal opinion on the validity of visions and the present experience of them. To be more concise, I am not sure if the event of a dream or vision is indeed an encounter with the Spirit of God. I do desire the thought that this is true. However, in absence of proper meditation, prayer, and study on the same I cannot be certain. Never the less, regardless of absolute understanding I did have a thought last night which was made known to me through the combination of a rational train of thought and unconscious imagery.

As I lay down to sleep, I began a brief daily prayer as most of us do. Thankfulness, Awe, requests for protection of family and home. As I began to dose, I began to wrestle with the Lord in regard to sins and issues in my life that I seem to struggle with constantly. I took the position that if some divine sight was granted to me, that if I could see the demons beforehand then I could avoid interaction. In my mind I was concerning myself with large struggles, major events, happenings that would be obvious to most anyone.

Then

As I slipped into quiet rest, the image of a most serene countryside appeared. A landscape of virgin green grass draped in new foliage of long standing trees complete with warmth reminiscent of a spring day. A slight breeze swirled the clouds of the cobalt sky. A simple place with no threat or concern.

As I scanned the horizon a banner or flag-shaped object suddenly appeared . As the facade of the flowing banner was pealed away the presence of a demonic force came to light. There was a little troll like being that was all the time present behind the covering of the flag.

Instantly, I woke and was enlightened to know that evil is not only found in the open but conceals itself in every possible position. The Devil has been given dominion over this earth and will use all ends to accomplish his confusion.

I know - an obvious revelation at best. But – maybe an answer to a prayer. Maybe we do not need to see the absolute depravity of this world. Maybe we would be terrified at every turn if we knew the true darkness that surrounds. I like to think that the darkness that is revealed to us is done so with purpose. Maybe our sins and struggles are meant to try us by fire in order to cultivate who we are to be.

Praise God for the gift of relative peace. May we be ever watchful of the enemy even in our Joy. For although Christ has overcome the world we continue to drudge through it. Our mission is not yet complete. May we strive to realize all that Jesus Christ has and will continue to do for the world. May we be compelled to reflect his light so that others can find the Way. And in doing so those others will reflect the light back so we may see.

I would rather see the Light. Concentrate on the Light. Follow the Light.

Be aware of evil, but definitely not look for it.

Reason

There are many world-views of our GOD. Many labels placed upon people who hold certain theological perspectives. Much criticism and theoretical analysis. For any layman, such as myself, who begins to dig into the vast pit of ideas available for consumption there seems to be enough judgment and self righteousness to keep one’s mind occupied for eternity. This may be the way the devil wants it; this may be the way God wants it; I am not sure. Organic conversations of theism that either bring hell upon people attempting to sort through the whole of idea or fantastic topics for someone’s next encounter with humanity in the form of friendly discussion. The murmur of confused souls will be with us for the duration. Myself included, I add to this perplexed roar of diametric rational and mystic argument.

What can I say, I enjoy the dance. The rhythm. The flow. The gee and haw of life.

I do not enjoy it when a certain strain of truth is placed upon the messenger with condemnation. No one man can effectively communicate all of thought, reason, emotion, and spirit in one fell swoop. Therefore, any one theory or doctrine seems far too concentrated to give all inclusive meaning.

The most accurate attempt for this inclusiveness was that of Paul in Corinthians 2 when he claims to present nothing but “Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

Enough said.

But how hard the silence: even Paul continues

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.”

Even Paul attempts to bring further truth, further rational. Funny, how truth seems to exist separate from explanation and analytical thought. Funnier still is when folks begin to rely on reason and the ability to reason as truth, not simply a communicational link to the vast chasm of truth itself. Truth is not exclusive to reason but indeed originates in spirit.

“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.” Corinthians 2:13

Never the less, I must concede, I find great intrigue in the written as well as the spoken word, which is birthed out of reason. However, I also enjoy swimming in the pool of mystical experience. For how can one begin to reason and write if there is nothing to reason and write about?

The muse my friends is spirit. Enjoy the conversation but rely on the truth to give Life.

Reap

As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10–11

Sowing the seeds of the Kingdom have always been wonderful in concept. We let go of our illusions of control. We simply toss the truth outward and let God give the increase. "Those who have ears, let them hear."

But, consider that the farmer doesn't simply sow arbitrarily. The farmer sows for gain, for food, for profit. This is his vocation. He prepares the land. He calculates the soil's fertility. He gives careful analysis to all the cares of seeding the land long before he commences the act of sowing.

Why?

To ensure, to the best of his ability, a fine crop. A crop that will provide for his family. A crop that will allow nourishment and sustenance. A crop that will assist the next generation of growth.

We, the farmers, are to sow the kingdom of heaven in full reliance on God and his nurturing growth. However, at the same time, we are to turn over the land. We are to cultivate the soil.

And we are to expect the bounty.

Our development of relationships will reciprocate. We will be nourished by the fruit of the harvest. Both in the consuming of the produce as well as the joy of the knowledge of future crops. We do reap what we sow.

There will be seed for the sower and bread for the eater.

Fruit has a purpose - to nourish.

Stay

"The tree is an intrinsically "numinous" being. Solidified, a great fountain of life rises in the trunk, spreads in the branches, scatters in a spray of leaves and flowers and fruits. With a slow, silent ferocity the roots go burrowing down into the earth. Tender, yet irresistible, life battles with the unliving stones and has the mastery. Half hidden in the darkness, half displayed in the air of heaven, the tree stands there, magnificent..."
Aldous Huxley, The Olive Tree

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water"
David of the Psalms concerning righteous men

Righteousness is full of brilliance. If you are in the Light, you are awe-inspiring. Stay. Do not waver. Have courage. The hosts of heaven are on your side.

The "I AM"

"I am the way and the truth and the life... You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. So that the Son may bring glory to the Father."
Jesus the Christ

The way of truth is life. If we grasp truth then anything is possible. The possibilities bring glory, bring illumination, bring understanding of GOD.

T. S. Elliot once wrote concerning the art of poetry in relation to past influence. His inference is that any true art is in fact non-personal and thus non-original. That true art simply is. That the artist, in this case a poet, is in fact regurgitating experience and outside stimuli. That the origin of any art is a moot point. There are simply new configurations of existing ideas.

To excentuate this point I recall a quote,

"Anything deemed original is merely the origin forgotten"

Wonderfully, I have forgotten the author of this thought.

All this said; the Way, the Truth, and the Life simply is...it always has been and will always be...there is no originality to it...it is...

Jesus is the tangible expression of this truth. He is the action, the work, the poem resulting from Love, from Truth, from God...

All other human tangible forms must enter "The Way" through him...there is indeed no other original or alternate path, but all must consider him...and in considering him we must all consider his action, his work, his poem as regurgitation from the Father.

The Trinity

Last evening, I was educated concerning "The Trinity" from my four year old son.

Apparently, a couple of his buddies have been discussing the location of GOD.

• Samuel, my son, stated that his friend Gavin had advised that, "God is in Heaven".
• He further divulged his cousin Caleb's comment. That God, "Died on the cross for us".
• And when I asked him where he thought God was he proclaimed, "God is in your heart".

Fantastic answers all. Apparently, even through the eyes of four year old boys GOD is represented by: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

I am compelled

Man wakes. Man plants his feet firmly on the ground. Man Stretches. Man Yawns. Man walks lazily to open the window and allow the sun access to his inner home. Man then is compelled to leave his comfort. Leave his coffee. He is compelled to begin the work before him. Man traverses his property to tread upon the prepared earth. Man plunges his calloused paw into a worn satchel of seed. He broadcasts the potential crop onto the land. Joy fills the man. He reclines against a tree; closes his eyes and breaths his last breath. In the physical he departs. In the spiritual he arrives.

The rains come. The sun shines. The crop grows. Fruit has come forth for consumption. Seed has come forth to be redistributed.

I am compelled.