Brier (E. Pauline Johnson)

Because, dear Christ, your tender, wounded arm
Bends back the brier that edges life's long way
That no hurt comes to heart, to soul no harm,
I do not feel the thorns so much to-day.

Because I never knew your care to tire,
Your hand to weary guiding me aright,
Because you walk before and crush the brier,
It does not pierce my feet so much to-night.

Because so often you have hearkened to
My selfish prayers, I ask but one thing now,
That these harsh hands of mine add not unto
The crown of thorns upon your bleeding brow.

Nothing Original for Today

There is nothing original in a post mentioning President Obama today. I can't help but post anyway because I can't shake the thoughts and inner pondering I'm sorting through. It seems to me that, for better or for worse, we're all learning a significant lesson today. Will we, the Church in North America, see it? Will we be so concerned that he is unlike us that we'll dismiss this God moment, or will we ponder the significance of what is unfolding before our eyes? Will the southeast US (and some Canadians I know who would do well there) be able to support this leader and see how God might use this man, or will their own agendas cloud their perspective? What about my agenda? Do I really get it? I'm not sure, but I am excited. What a unique day!

LE

Survival Mode

I am rarely intimidated. Even when I feel intimidated I am not easily bent out of shape. Today feels a little bit different to me, though. Today I am intimidated.

When I look at my life in the next fifteen weeks I see Intimidation personified in my mind. It stands before me in my mind's eye wearing a black suit, a white shirt, and a black tie. Its shoes are shiny and reflective. Of course I notice the shoes because I can't look Intimidation in the eye. If I did, I would be horrified. Eyes, a window to the soul, would simply be dark spaces an the otherwise expressionless face of soul-less intimidation. So, there I stand, staring at the shoes, watching my reflection stare back at me. I've tried looking up, but Intimidation blocks the way, so I can't see past it very well. So, I look back in the shoes.

Funny, though, how the picture changes as I stare. The longer I stare into the shiny shoes, the clearer things become. I am almost resigned to entering survival mode when I notice something bright behind me. It is the reminder of Hope. I am not alone in facing Intimidation. Natasha is there. Roya is there. My close friends are there. So is my church family. There are even a few people there that I'm surprised to see. It doesn't matter how big Intimidation looks, I can't shake this feeling that Hope is here. I'm surrounded by people - and by Hope. No matter how scary Intimidation can be, I remember that the One who is in me is much greater than Intimidation. "Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world."

Take that, Intimidation. Take that, survival mode.

LE