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We didn't find a pearl
Hidden in the shells on the marsh But we did find fishermen Who shared with us their rods and stories Who taught us how to cast and reel in Who left us feeling joyful and welcome and seen We wandered upon the docks We sat looking out from the pier We didn't take a boat and sail out But we feasted together genuinely On fresh food and in good company We ate at the edge of the sea and recognized Him among us We spent a lot of time looking up At stained glass in the library That spoke of poets as prophets of beauty At the details on the church doors Depicting the faces of saints who've gone before We have no trinkets to show for our time but we do have wonder On the beach we were silent together At the shore we heard Him calling He invited me to take some space To adventure alone for a moment To hear Him clearly and to know for myself The joy of returning back again to family We walked in rhythms of rest We moved in rhythms of worship We leaned into unhurried stillness We met with our Maker Our Maker met with us We had all along the pearl of great price “And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:2-4 ESV I have had access to the storehouse all along, ever since I joined this family, I just never knew all the goodness I had access to. Seasons have come and gone, but the storehouse has always been just one door away from me. Its resources are for the needy. Its resources are for the body. Access only takes awareness, only takes accepting the invitation to, "come, if I'm thirsty, come to the waters; and if I have no money, come, buy and eat!" (Isaiah 55:1). Why is it hard sometimes to accept gifts that are free, goodness I can't reciprocate but can only receive? Children are good at receiving gifts joyfully. Children don't fight against their father's generosity. Children are good at treasuring simple things. Children bring delight to their father. Maybe this, in part, is what it means to be like such as these, to become like a child and accept the gift of the kingdom of God, become part of the family of saints, come through the doorway marked with the blood of the spotless Lamb, and enter into holy rest and abundance. The storehouse is open to all who can receive. “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:19-23 ESV Daughter, look up.
The King is out on the waters before you. He is unwaveringly patient and whole. Do you doubt his authenticity? He is not sign or symbol: He is the real thing. Reach and you will find him tangible. Hold fast to him and be held in his capable arms. Listen and you will hear the resonance of his voice. Sing your heart song in harmony to his melody. He is always worthy. He is an absolute. All of creation testifies to his beauty. All of creation flows from his generosity. All of creation responds to him with awe. Daughter, look up, respond to him. Let your heart respond to him honestly, The gracious King who moves towards you, The present King who is unafraid and wholly unashamed to call you his beloved, The steadfast King who holds a joy unchanging. Daughter, look up, respond to him. He is not far off. He is not hidden in a cloud. No tomb can contain him, but any garden can, The God-Man whose laugh births abundance. Trust the ways he plants, waters, weeds, prunes, and harvests. Trust the ways he prepares the feast and ages the wine for the cup of redemption. Trust his ways. Trust him. Trust him. Daughter, trust him. He is trustworthy. Something has been burned onto you,
It's crusty and sticky and acting like it has always been a part of who you are; You are not this mess, don't let it shame you. We can scrub at it hard and long, Use some steel wool and strong-arm this thing To get it off, or we can let it soak instead, Then it might come off more gently. I'll run some warm water, drizzle in Some bubbly soap, we will cover this mess With a different substance that does its work Slowly, and then we will wait. We are not ignoring this goo, Some charred things just need time resting In still, warm water before they are soft enough To detach from the surfaces they have stuck to. Yes, we're still here, it's only been five minutes. We have to give the water time to do its work. Water is a miraculous substance, changing The weight of things, working by osmosis. Yes, I'm excited to get this over, get this done, too, But dear one, rushing ahead will only make this harder. Let it soak. Let it rest. Let it be covered. Under the water, transformation is happening. Yes, now it's been an hour, Funny how time moves like water, Like quiet streams, when we're sitting together, Together here in the waiting. I'm still thinking about water: How it makes up so much of who you are, How it is used to wash and clean, Thinking about living water and baptizing. Words are like water, and parting seas Sometimes looks like shutting out deceit By letting me clear the way for you, Or like being buried, under water, and coming up free. Words are like water, like the water I use To wash my disciples' feet, I'm gentle, It's not a scouring, it's an honoring, Washing off the parts that don't look like me. Words are like water, when waters break, There is a flood, life is going to pour out, There may be pain in the process, But this new life is wondrous and full of beauty. Words are like water, coming out of a rock, The rock that is higher, the cornerstone rock, Bringing refreshing where there was once doubt, Keeping promises, this water that doesn't run out. It is time now to see how things have changed; Let's pour some water out slowly, There now, here's a clean cloth to remove The lingering mess. All through. There now. There you are, now you look like you. |
AuthorI write to process. I write to explore. I write with the hope of sharing truth greater than my own. Archives
February 2022
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