The Garden and the Wilderness

The Garden and the Wilderness

I’m reading Bruxy Cavey’s book “The End of Religion”, and came across this little bit about the Garden:

“By placing Adam and Eve in a “garden” God was calling all humankind to partner with Him in caring for creation.

A garden is a meeting place between nature and human culture. It reflects both divine and human creativity, as opposed to the extremes of a city on the one hand and a forest …on the other. God’s original design for humanity (and I don’t think He has changed it…ss) was an intimate, purposeful relationship between Himself and humanity, expressed through a co-creative partnership.”

I love the imagery of the garden and the wilderness. For many, including myself, whether we are gifted or not in this area, there is an instinct to garden. If we were placed in a highrise in an urban ghetto, we’d be looking for a place to plant something…spading up a vacant lot….potting up a tomato on the fire escape…whatever…Conversely, if we were suddenly stranded and lost in the jungle, we’d be compelled to make a little clearing, pull a few weeds, cultivate and encourage useful indigenous plants.

There is so much to think about in this idea of the garden and the wilderness. In the absence of man, the wilderness prevails. It is wild and beautiful, and perhaps dangerous. Although, certainly no more dangerous than the inner city. If it were possible to exclude God from the situation (which it is not of course…but sometimes we do see hellish circumstances where He SEEMS to be absent) what a ghastly squalid environment man on his own can create.

I love the idea that where God and man meet, a garden is possible….and so a garden becomes symbolic of friendship, fellowship, partnership with our Father.
Something to think about as you’re hilling the spuds...

Be Born in Me

I enjoy reading Preston Eby’s online (and ongoing) commentary on the Book of Revelation, “From the Candlestick to the Throne.” The perspective he brings is one of seeing Christ revealing Himself IN us. I have been more used to an apocalyptic/historical/prophetical take on this book, so I find reading it from this perspective interesting and profitable. Not that one interpretation necessarily rules out the possibility of all others, but since the book of Revelation is so highly symbolic…and in light of the title being, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” rather than, “How it’s all going to End,” I think it’s worthwhile to examine it from this perspective.

I’m at the part where Eby is discussing the four horsemen. He has the white horse to represent Christ coming to conquer and illuminate our hearts. The second horse…the firey red one with the sword…he makes to be Christ (the Word) coming to us as a sword which Hebrews 4:12 describes as “…quick, and powerful,… piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

I don’t want to paraphrase too much of Eby’s excellent writing. I will only muddy up what he expresses so well and so clearly, however, this idea of the red horse really resonated with me. I feel that the red horseman has been operating in my life, and sometimes it’s comforting to remember that Jesus said, “I came not to bring peace but a sword.”…and that this in no way contradicts the angel’s song, “Peace on Earth…good will to men.”

If the purpose of the sword is to separate the carnal from the spiritual, bring it on! When the wheat is separated from the chaff…it doesn’t mean that the chaff has not served a purpose. It means that it’s purpose is accomplished. And our carnal nature has served it’s purpose too….but now we have to be separated from it.

Eby quotes a passage written by F.B. Meyer. I’ve read several of his excellent books, but unfortunately, don’t know which book this is from. This whole idea of Christ being born IN us…. Is one that has been sweetly working in me for several years. It started when I suddenly realized that Luke 1:45 “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” applied not only to Mary—but to ME!... and to each of those in whom He is being born. (Incidentally, I believe this is the only occurrence of the phrase, “blessed is SHE” in the Bible….)

So here is what F.B. Meyer says:

“When Christ is born, there is always trial. What trouble the New-born brought into this world! There was trouble for Mary! She was living a happy, peaceful life in Nazareth, when the sword began to penetrate her soul, and she was called to endure an agony of misunderstanding from those who loved her best. There was trouble for Joseph, who was afflicted by startling fears, roused suddenly from sleep, and bidden to leave all and flee. There was trouble for Herod and the Jews. ‘He was troubled and all Jerusalem with him,’ at the story of the new-born King. There was trouble also in a multitude of Jewish homes, entered by brutal soldiery, who tore the babes from their mothers’ breasts and tossed them on their sword-points. Wherever Jesus comes, trial follows. He comes to send, not peace, but a sword; and one who knew well of what he affirmed said; ‘I am crucified with Christ—I die daily—I am delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake.’ These inward trials often spring from the unwillingness of our nature to yield to the will and way of God. A man’s foes are they of his own household. Sometimes, also, when we have begun to live the new life it seems as if the box of Pandora were opened, and all the winds had escaped, each eager to outdo all the rest. But out of the trouble will rise the fairest, strongest life! By and by some watcher on the battlements of heaven, beholding our approach, will cry, ‘Who are these arrayed in white robes, and whence came they?' and this will be the reply: ‘These are they that came out of great tribulation’—for tribulation is education misspelt”

end quote

I enjoy a story my Dad liked to tell about an Inuit carver who was asked, how it was that he was so skilful and able to fashion any animal he imagined out of a piece of stone. The Inuit scratched his head and said, “Well it’s not so hard…say I want to carve a dog…I just take a look at the stone…and carve off everything that doesn’t look like a dog…”

So let the Christ, the Word, work in me….

separating and carving off all that doesn’t look like my Father.

Come Lord Jesus be born in me
That I may be reborn in Thee
I’ll make a place for you to dwell
Come into my heart Emmanuel

For a New Beginning

Here is a poem that someone referred to in a group I belong to. I am not familiar with the work of John O'Donohue...but I googled him and found that he was an Irish Poet...former priest....linked with Celtic mysticism... A little younger than myself, died last year..... Anyhow, enough to know he might not be "at my board table"...haha...but at the same time, somewhat of a kindred spirit. Somehow...this poem For a New Beginning resonates with me on several levels. It is really quite beautiful. (He tends to write poetic blessings.)

For a New Beginning

In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.

Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.

Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life's desire.

Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.

~ John O'Donohue

Comments on John 8 and Daniel 5

I'm going backwards I know...but I wanted to record my thoughts about John chapter 8 because I've heard people talk about what they think Jesus wrote on the ground with His finger... and some time ago, I came up with a theory of my own and I'm almost sure I'm right...haha.

As Jesus was teaching early in the morning at the temple, the Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery....I imagine her in a bedsheet...humiliated, and in order to test Jesus, they ask him what should be done with her because the Law of Moses states that she should be stoned. They must have suspected that Jesus wouldn't agree with that...hence the test. This idea is interesting in itself, because we see Jesus at varience with the application of the Law.

Jesus wisely suggests that the one without sin should be the first to throw a stone. And He bends down and starts writing in the dust on the ground with His finger. I notice that the phrase "with his finger" is repeated twice...in v. 6 and again in v. 8 and and I find myself wondering why that little detail....and why the repetition? I've heard the suggestion that He wrote down the 10 commandments....or the particular sins that he knew applied to the potential stone throwers... but the whole "finger" thing got my mind working in another direction.

It reminded me of another writing finger....one in Daniel 5:5. So I decided to read that story again and see if there were any parallels between what happened in Daniel 5 and what was happening here in John 8. Here is what I found... that convinced me that the words Jesus wrote with His finger in the dust could very well have been, "mene mene tekel epharsin."

The occasion in Daniel was the feast of Belshazzar, where the king had taken the sacred vessels from the temple to use as wine goblets...showing his contempt for the things of God and his pride in his own majesty. A hand appears and writes a cryptic message on the wall. While the Chaldean wise men might have understood the words themselves...the letter...they were not able to understand the meaning of the message...the spirit. The words were, "mene, mene, tekel upharsin" and they mean "numbered, numbered, weighed, divisions," so it is easy to see why Belshazzar needed help with understanding the implications. The meaning of the message was given by Daniel in verse 26-28:

Mene - God has numbered the days of your kingship and brought them to an end
Tekel - You are weighted in the balances and are found wanting
Peres - the singular of Upharsin - Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians

It was natural for me to think that perhaps Jesus was giving this same message to the religious elite of His day. I noticed that according to Daniel, the very night this interpretation was given to Belshazzar...he was slain....and Darius the Mede took the kingdom.

I think that if Jesus had written these words in the sand, they would not have been without significant meaning to these scholarly Jews. I believe they would have recognized the import immediately...that Jesus was declaring an end to their rule and the beginning of a new regime. v. 9 states that they began going out conscience stricken, one by one till there was no one left but Jesus and the woman.....and then he said those beautiful words, "I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more."

From then on though, Jesus preaches about a new government, opening with the words, "I am the light of the world." I think this story indicates the end of Temple worship and the establishment of the KINGDOM OF GOD.

I notice in the preceeding chapter (7) two references to the religious elite....v. 26 and v. 48-49. Both speak of the religious rulers being looked to in order to validate or discredit Jesus. I thought that it is significant that the question is asked (v48) "Has any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in Him?" and contempt is shown for the laity by the leaders in (v49) when they say "As for this multitude (rabble) that does not know the Law, they are contemptible and doomed and accursed!"

On the contrary, Jesus has said to the unfortunate woman, who is undeniably guilty of sin, "I do not condemn you either..." but later (v26) he says of the religious elite, "I have much to say about you and to judge and condemn..."

This is only the first part of this chapter, but it causes me to reflect on the pedestal we have tended to put the religious elite even in our day..... and to wonder sometimes if the writing is not on the wall for some contemporary kingdoms.

I have been tagged by Peyton. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/peyton/411489/?#c8.
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Ok, here we go!! ( in no particular order...haha)

1. Chocolate...right now it's Lindor....mmm
2. Water....oceans, rivers, streams, lakes, creeks...
3. Music in it's manifold expressions
4. Outdoor fun....wilderness hikes, camping paddling and cycling
5. Family...all the branches and roots of the family tree.

Now I want to tag Wyatt, Silas, and Darren

songs

It's funny how once we "see the light" as it were, on the love and mercy of our Father, some of the songs we've sung seem so rediculous and other's have more meaning for us than ever befor. There's an old gospel song (He Brought Me Out) that begins, "My heart was distressed 'neath Jehovah's dread frown," Yikes!....I had to change it to, "My heart was distressed and my spirit weighed down"....haha.

I often find that I wake up with one of the old songs on my heart and if I do, it is usually quite meaningful and comforting. Recently, a song that I always thought was a rather old-fashioned funeral song, has struck me poigniantly. I've been almost wailing as Father prunes me and the old song, "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go" was brought to my mind. All the verses are lovely, but I particularly relate to the third one:

O Joy that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to Thee;

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain

That morn shall tear-less be....

Breath of Heaven

BREATH OF HEAVEN
Words and music by Chris Eaton and Amy Grant

1.
I have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary with a babe inside
And I wonder what I’ve done
Holy Father You have come
And chosen me now…to carry your Son

2.
I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now….be with me now….

3.
Do you wonder, as you watch my face,
If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am for the mercy of Your plan
Help me be strong…
Help me be…
Help me….

Five years ago, at Christmas time, I read the words of the angel to Mary as recorded in Luke 1:45

"And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."

Many times in the Bible we read the words, "Blessed is HE..." so the words, "Blessed is SHE..." sort of jumped out at me...and it occurred to me that the words while they were directed at Mary in the first place....were also directed at me....

Like Mary, I had been given the wonderful priviledge of making my life available to the use of the Holy Spirit of God in bringing forth the life of His son. And as in the case of Mary, the priviledge was not without suffering rejection and suspicion from those one loved most, and the loss of one's own persona to become identified with that of the Son of God. The song quoted above, spoke to me at the time in conjuction with the wonderful promise of Luke 1:45. This is the meaning it had for me.

1

Obedience is costly sometimes but there is a blessing promised which causes us to follow on even if the way seems dark and cold and lonesome at times.

2

Sometimes obedience sets us apart from those who we have come to hope would always be beside us as a friend and help, and we have to come to the knowledge that our Father is all we have......but He is more than enough

3

Father chooses us not because we are especially wise or wonderful, but because we are available and obedient. I like the phrase, "...for the mercy of Your plan", because I have come to see that God's plan is more merciful than I once thought, and I'm sure, more merciful that I can imagine even now..... The threefold prayer at the end....is just as I often pray. First I pray for what I think I need...."Help me be strong"..... then I realize that I'm not sure exactly what kind of help I am in need of..."Help me be...(fill in the blank)"...And then at the end of the day, I realize....I just need help for the simple reason that "Without Him I can do nothing."...."Help me."

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness,
Pour over me Your holiness, for You are Holy
Breath of Heaven

In the words of Mary, I say:

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."