Dreaming of Silver Roses

Ken Gire’s book teaches ways to reflect and meditate on the story of Christ. The living story. It’s more than history. I have been attempting to practice what Gire preached and such vulnerability is a challenge for me. This is a milder glimpse at my attempts. (Yeah, this really is milder! Aren’t you glad I am not courageous enough quite yet to really stick it out there! )

Gire’s book talks about methods for reflecting on the Word. That is what this attempt is at the moment. He recommends that we read a portion, reflect on it – what are your thoughts or thoughts of others that surfaced as you read and think about what you read. What did you see in what you read. Then reflect on how to respond.

Our pastor has been preaching through my favorite gospel – St. John’s. So that gospel is in various chapters running through my mind – I can’t list all the scriptures I was thinking about as I wrote this. You would be reading forever. Here are a few places I stopped to think about in case you want to know where the idea came from Biblically.

John 1:1-18 (The Word before and at creation and in the neighborhood!)

John 1:37-39 (“Come and see” and they spent the day with Him.)

John 2:1-11 (Water to wine the party animal!)

John 4 (the woman at the well and a healing of a boy)

John 6 (misunderstood)

John 8 (Neither do I condemn you!)

John 11 (Lazarus)

John 12 (anointed)

John 13 (washing feet and friendship/ fellowship defined)

John 18 (betrayal and dark)

John 19 (when back up appears to be too late)

John 20 (hope)

John 21 (restoration)

Other possible resources I have run into that are in my heart for this reflection.

A Parable of Joy by Michael Card

the Jesus Album by Rich Mullins

Madeleine L’Engle’s An Irrational Season, Walking on Water

Caroline Chase’s Glimpses of Grace

Max Luccado’s 3:16

Beth Moore’s series of lectures on Life Today with James and Betty Robinson this month

Carolyn Arend’s interview yesterday on the Debbie Chavez show about Faith and Doubt and being genuine

Ken Gire’s The Reflective Life: Becoming More Spiritually Sensitive to the Everyday Moments of Life

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Did you know the drives created

Never saw abuse and suffering

Through breathe and clay formed eyes

Never heard the wailing of the innocent

Through ears unable to channel the onslaught

Creation marred at a distance must have been a nightmare

Creation marred at your finger tips must have been hellish

External voices, constant advice, expectations unrealistic

Inward rages, the potential intoxication of control and power

Hungers of every kind ravaging, pain searing

We are born into this never knowing the difference.

Did you?

How could you cope with constant choosing?

Healing only under guidance

Raising dead by limited faith rather than limitless power

What perfect words out of the thousands in your mind to use to bless?

When to be allowed to curse in an already cursed world?

Man of Sorrows?Man of Joy? Man?God Man?

Creating using wood and nails and earthly resources

Art never? quite? saying? Love? out right

A living parable?

Living a parable?

The galaxies were your palette!

Thunder and crashing waves were your percussion instruments!

You were the Word – the Voice!

What was it like for the Light to be afraid of what was in the dark?.

You were Light exposed to the ultimate dark?.

You have seen total depravity?

In man?

In me?

Nothing is hidden in me.

Oh! Do I regret?repent?of what horrors I subject your innocent eyes to within me! And for what I cannot give you yet.

While dying for me was more difficult than I could ever fathom?

I am over whelmed and breathless that you would choose to live your life time for me as well- that took passion (suffering) to a whole different level!

I am confounded? and grateful? and humbled that you would choose to live again and live in me!

Filed under: Christianity on April 23rd, 2008