Light gives warmth;
all the more, light
which gives itself to the dark

but light is
notorious
also, for exposing us(

that’s what the
aurora is,
charred particles escaping.
but is this
not the hope of
sons and daughters everywhere?

)everywhere
cold hearts finding
life in the very light they
they fear. And,
growing warm, sing
to the dark from which they came.

(c) 2010 Justin P. Heap

–

but we so often want to retreat; and inevitably, we forget that we are not meant to retreat, to shrink back, to erect gates, to create ghettos.

what a ghetto we’ve created, what a savior we have!

may we abandon the ghettos we’ve created in lieu of the church: may we once again re-plant ourselves in the garden, which is the world. may we re-member ourselves to each other through the breath which binds and the wind which bends all things. may we gather our dress from around our feet and place the flowers in our hair again. maybe we could sing to the dark from which we came, for behold, the world is dark, and light is precious.*

but not without forgiveness. withholding forgiveness creates space between our limbs; indeed, it creates space between the members. it disfigures the body and makes ugly what is meant to be beautiful. forgiving as GOD forgives reveals the seal of our heart and breaks our pride. it places us within the skin of the other. and in this place, the skin of the other, we have eliminated the space in between which disfigures and have become compassion which restores and re-figures.

Q/ what steps will you take/have you taken to leave the ghetto? what are some ways your local community is living into redemption by forgiving others? and what has been your experience of “getting into the skin of the other person” that you may be compassion, singing into the dark?

*kate dicamillo

“fear not. only believe.” – yeshua of nazareth

the sky was very dark and water was falling from the heavens. and every so often, the wind would stir and streaks of light would reflect off of owen’s eyes.

i think it was one of the coolest ‘conversations’ i have had with my son yet. we whispered together while at the same time watching together. it was an incredible feeling to watch a storm through the eyes of a one-year old: every drop of rain turned his head, every flash of lightning seemed to cause him to wonder.

but we also whispered. it began with him raising his hand, pointing toward infinity, and whispering what i am pretty sure was, “whoa.” i replied, as quietly and carefully as i could, “yes, son, that just happened.” i proceeded to put it forth that there is, indeed, a god with a name [blessed be his holy name] who is the source of all things: who creates the wind: who turns dawn into darkness: who is the only true god: yes, YHWH, the lord of hosts, is his name.

but every so often, thunder would crack through the silence. and naturally, his little ears would hear such a sound and cause his eyes to blink in fear. it occurred to me that there was no better time to reveal these words of jesus to a scared soul, “fear not. only believe.”

it is nothing new to hear that fear paralyzes and faith propels; that fear and faith are so delicately opposed while also being definitvely intertwined. i wanted owen to understand that the command to fear not is given to us not because jesus is a cold-hearted, numb and naive man with no compassion for those who find themselves afraid; he gives this command alongside another command: only believe, only have faith.

there will be times when we are scared, but our response is not to fear. we are, in fact, commanded to only believe. to believe that YHWH is who he says he is. to believe that our god cares about us. to believe that all things are ours. to believe that he will finish/complete/make whole what he begins. to believe that even death is not the end for those in christ jesus. to believe that our god is the lord of hosts and his command is to take the land! only believe.

our god turns dawn into darkness, for it is often under the cover of darkness that our eyes fail and faith prevails.

–

despite my unbelief, i believe that who i am is a son of the only living god & king, YHWH [blessed be his name]. a son of the resurrection. a son of the wind which bends all things.