He Asked Her How She Was and She Said Busy.She plays her life like the music box,that no matter which direction the handleis turned, three blind mice come out running for all they are worth. ... read more
Running
"I believe that God made me for a purpose..., but He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure....” — Eric LiddellI take no pleasure in running. But I am captivated by the thought of God making us good at something (even good at something as unnecessary to life as running); that there is a chance He delights in seeing us recognize how ... read more
That Other Language
Down I-90 across Montana,miles and miles of nowhereto pee, seventy-five mile an hoursagebrush, and suddenly a birdwho can fly that fast.Like the lady in the pickup,who won’t let you pass,casually looking ahead as ifthere is no game of accelerationsoaring down both lanes, you swearyou catch a glance of yellow eyes.*(And all those warnings about the ... read more
Beatings
Beatings (Or More than anything else Life wants to Live)Those few cellstorn from your heartwill still beat rhythmin a Petri dish.Living cells make noise—listen to the choir in the yeast of Sunday morning'stoast sing high c. Can you imagine scientistshearing a screamjust before death? ... read more
Fences
Rules to a game are easily accepted and determinedly enforced. Or not. Certainly they are not law. Even with laws we allow ourselves at least two miles an hour over the limit. The beauty of gray. Frost that melts away.What if rules, commands from God, are the way He knows me, the way recognize His son in me. Not legalism, not in the sucess of my ... read more
Wooden Woman
A self-portrait of that awkward feeling,duty taking a firm stand somewhere between responsibility and obligation.Oh, she knows the right thing to do, with that thickened spine and those formidable logs, er, arms spread wide and heading straight for you. That iron head. Look out for her love. Just like embracing an elm.Though I’m certain God gets to ... read more
Swimming
Water. The act of swimming is very much like flying. I have always wished I could swim with my eyes closed to enjoy the movement without the distraction of the visual. (Someone once told me this meant I wasn’t getting a very good workout. Eyes closed in concentration not rest, Brad. Oh never mind.)Still, the thrill of flying through liquid is ... read more
WORDS
WORDS:Hoar Frost. You don’t need a picture. The mind does it for you, because of memory. Memory imbeds words into the visual.But there are also words with no visuals. Abstractions like love.How interesting that God describes Himself as the Word. In the beginning the Word was with God, and the Word was God. How is that for covering everything and ... read more
Banter
We call it banter—a mad whirl of thought, preceding a volley of conversation wherein it is expected you will stuff in your two cents, with no regard for the usual polite pause and slight raise of brow to indicate the floor is now yours, no, this is grab and run—true industrial strength banter is a dizzying revolution of listening noises, ... read more
Great Bird of Love
Father Janos tells me not to forget that my sin cannot put me outside my position as an heir in the kingdom. Family ties are involved now, the security of the blood relative thing. Ahhh, the Calvin/Armenian snarl.I am vaguely disinterested a spar. More interested in story and poetry, ahhh yes, the demonstration of the Great Love Bird tucking us ... read more
Opening
An opening: finding a way inside. Also to uncover, reveal. To unfold. I am not afraid to drag the slimy thing out, all elbows and wet wings, and unfold my sin before Him. He already knows what I've become. Confession by its very nature comes after the fact.There follows a certain kind of embarrassment over choices I've made, covered with fervid, ... read more
Alas, I never knew you
"...Alas, I never knew you..."This was Jesus' response to those who wanted in to heaven because they called him Lord, Lord, because they did good works in his name.I've spent a lot of time trying to know God through devotions and prayer and believing that doing the things that I think that He thinks are important is the highest call. What does that ... read more
