Eve and Apples

Would Eve have been tempted had the apple looked slightly odd? Perhaps the forbidden fruit she sampled looked perfect, but the only nourishment it offered was deadly. Whereas these apples look rather weird, but they are juicy and sweet.

God told Samuel that whereas people judge each other by outward appearances, he judges by what’s in the heart. (And since we often don’t know what’s in another person’s heart, the best advice is not to judge at all!)

Blazes

A log fell out of the fire last week, fusing the fibres of the rug and singeing the underlay. Had Don not been sitting there at the time, he might have been dealing with an inferno.

We love our open fire. It’s cheerful and alive, flaring and blazing and then settling into hot embers. It makes the room cosy not just because of the heat given off but also by the sense of companionship a living fire gives. It’s kind of a quiet, comforting friend.

But an open fire has obvious risk factors, and requires vigilance and care. On balance, we’re happy to manage the risks with smoke alarms and a fire guard and a regular chimney sweep.

People can be on fire for God. One might argue that a person filled with the Holy Spirit will be on fire for God – whether that fire is blazing or has settled into the warmth of glowing embers. That inner fire should draw those who are still ‘out in the cold’ to come near and warm themselves in God’s presence as expressed through a believer’s life. In God is found mercy and grace and forgiveness for all.

Jesus came for all, and he lived his life riskily. Many were drawn to his warmth; when they experienced his love, they were willing to abandon home and job and join him on the road. Others, though, were scorched by the truth he taught and lived. Full of pride or self-righteousness, convinced of the correctness of their own understanding, they criticised and judged others and eventually hung the prince of peace on a cross.

The world is a cold place just now, where at least one leader has rejected compassion for the vulnerable in preference for protection of his own kind. This is the time for the rest of us to fan our faith into flame, to stick close to the source and move through the world with compassion and love, exuding hope in our faithful and loving Father.

Sunbeams

Watching the sunbeams pick up the sparkle of the frost on the fields and bushes, I’m reminded of the way places like Stonehenge were configured so as to channel a particular sunbeam on  particular days of each year – at the solstices. At just the right moment, presumably, everything is in alignment and the ray of sun zaps into the centre of the structure, unimpeded. 

Someone I know has been fasting this week, and it has made me think along those lines – that as the spiritual lines are unclogged of the detritus of daily life and painful experiences, God’s love and grace and power can beam right into the centre of one’s soul. 

John the Baptist (quoting the Old Testament) challenged his followers to make way for the Lord so that he can enter in all his glory.

Sometimes it’s hurts and pains that can block God’s love from getting right to the heart and working miracles. As I look out at my favourite tree (a graceful triple trunk which always reminds me of the Trinity), I think that just as trees take blows and absorb the scars into the rings that mark off the years, so we as humans, with God’s help, can absorb the ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ and be healed, and continue to grow healthy and perhaps even stronger because of our experiences.

Gifts

Some people excel at gift-giving; they seem to have a knack for choosing just the right thing. Some cultures encourage generous giving to the point of self-denial. If you express admiration for someone’s tie or scarf, they immediately take it off and insist on giving it to you.

It can be challenging to know how to respond. Indebted? Embarrassed? Most gift-givers, though, are content to see the joy the gift brings the recipient. More blessed to give than to receive, Jesus said.

God is just such a gift-giver. He excels at tailoring the gift to the recipient. 

It can be challenging to know how to respond. We can feel inadequate. We can sense that the gift comes with responsibilities we can’t or don’t want to shoulder. We can feel we don’t deserve it.

But I think that God gives gifts like he gives his love – unconditionally. He enjoys watching our delight and joy as we receive from him.

God’s gifts are perfect. They inspire gratitude and joy. These are four of the best gifts I have ever been given. God excelled himself when he entrusted these four into our care.

They all inspire gratitude and joy, not just in us, but in others, too. God is so good.

Creativity part 2

OK, God, I think I’ve got my main character created – not from some man’s rib but in my imagination. That is, I know her vital statistics – where she lives, approximate age, career, etc. Still unsure of her name though. But what I really need now is to breathe some life into her. 

I need to know how she ticks. What she thinks. How she reacts in various situations. 

I need her back story. Why she thinks as she does. Why she reacts as she does.

So as I head for the car for a spot of childminding, I shall explore some options and see if, with your help, her lungs will begin to inflate and her brain will reveal some of its mysteries to me.

Not all writing is done at the desk. Somehow I need to get into this character’s skin.

Makes me think of someone else. You, Father God. You got into human skin so you could better identify with our temptations, our weaknesses, and save us from ourselves. Thank you. So grateful. Thank you. 

My aim is much less lofty. That is, I don’t intend to save this character or anyone else. But I would love it, Lord, if with your help someone in the future will read her story and through it, see you in all your glory, and receive your salvation.

Amen and amen.