The Other Side

Across the lake lay the darkness of unbelief.
On the lake was the darkness of the storm above, the deep below.
On the shore the tombs put out the darkness of possession.
"Let us go over to the other side," he said.
We followed, even into the darkness.

The wind and the waves obeyed him.
The demons feared and lay before him.
Even unbelief was challenged by him.
"Let us go to the other side," he said.
We followed, and he overcame.


Only doubt would ask if you cared.
Only evil would fear torture from you.
Only unbelief would ask you to leave.
"Let us go over to the other side," he said.
We followed, and were rejected as well.

At the end of the day, the storm was calmed,

The tortured man sat quietly at your feet in his right mind,
The people gained a witness of God's mercy and power.
"Let us go over to the other side," he said.
We followed and found hope.

(Meditation on Mark 4:35-5:20)

Lord, going over with you to the other side brings fear and even resentment in my mind.  What can I say?  I will follow you.  Let me find hope in you.  Amen.

The One Who Could

The one who could gather large crowds
  with his teaching and healing
  also leaves them behind.
The one who could explain everything to his disciples
  when they were alone
  also lets them alone as he slept in the middle of their storm.
The one who could speak only in parables to the crowds
  so they might not hear, but only understand,
  also quiets howling winds with his words.
The one who could speak only in parables to the crowds
  so they might not see, but only perceive,
  also stills the furious waves with his words.
The one who could say "He who has ears, let him hear!"
  also makes the winds and waves obey him.
The one who could command our trust and love
  also allows us to ask, "Who is this?"
The one who could hear us say, "Don't you care if we drown?"
  also says, "Do you still lack my faith?"

(Meditation on Mark 4:35-41, Jesus Calms the Storm)

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Small Enough, Large Enough

The kingdom of God is small enough to be overlooked,
but large enough to fill my whole life.

The voice is quiet,
the seed is small,
but when planted,
it rules over all,
giving a place to stand
and a place to rest,
a place of comfort,
a place of trust.

The kingdom is small enough
to get lost in a crack,
easily looked over,
off the beaten track.

The kingdom is for planting,
going ever deep,
rooted in the will to good
of those who truly seek.

The kingdom grows larger still,
filling life in every crease,
overshadowing each moment
with love, joy, and peace.

captainkimo.com

The kingdom lifts its branches,
giving me a place to land,
a shadow of constant kindness
giving rest in its hands.

The kingdom calls
in parable and word
to be planted in the ear
and be ever heard.

Let this kingdom grow into my heart.
Let this Jesus come beside and explain
as alone I await his teaching words
about  a place to stand, a place to remain.

Your kingdom come.
Your kingdom stay.
Your kingdom grow
each and every day.

(On Mark 4:30-34, The Parable of the Mustard Seed)

Ripening to God's Word

The listening ear and the satisfied heart
       grow in the same soil.
       That soil is the kingdom of God.
       The place where the ear and heart are married.

spmcrector.blogspot.com

I see seeds in my hand
         waiting to be sown,
         waiting to be grown,
         life waiting to happen.
In my hand, in my possession,
          they will come to nothing,
          remain only seeds,
          only fit for lesser creatures,
          barely able to feed a bird -
          only seeds,
                           ears without heart.
They touch the earth.
        Then their life is kindled.
        To what they have more is given:
              a stalk,
                 a head,
                    a full kernel in the head,
                       ripeness.

How can those seeds of listening produce such a crop?
                        They grow by loving desire, unseen, underground.
                        They grow in sleep or in waking,
                                             during night or in the day.
                        And so listening brings fruit
                                    by this kingdom of God,
                        All by itself seemingly -
                             this true listening,
                             listening with all my heart.
                        My Jesus, your words are life;
                                        let me hear!


These seeds do not grow all at once:
          First the stalk,
                  then the head,
                         then the kernel in the head,
                                then ripeness.
In growth is the waiting,
    one thing upon another,
    experience with experience,
    life within life.

Listening is waiting
                  waiting for ripeness.
So much is green in my heart
                  unable the sustain what I hear.
                  I long for ripeness.

fineartamerica.com

Lord,
        send a sickle to my heart,
                an apostle to reap the fruit of listening.
                Only then will my heart be satisfied.
        If only my heart would ripen to your word!
        If only the seeds of listening would bear fruit!
                        Something so small becomes the biggest of all,
                        the rejected stone, the capstone,
                        the Suffering Servant, the Savior,
                        the unknown man, the Teacher of all.
                        My Jesus and my little life in him.

(Meditation on Mark 4:26-29)

Seek the Kingdom with Your Ears

 Only the good soil grows in the light of God.

               Some soil stays in the darkness of ignorance.

               Some soil takes no root in troubled storms.

               Some soil gets choked by weeds of greed and worry.

Only the good soil of listening grows in the light of God.

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The kingdom of God is a lamp shining out,

                                         never hidden

                                         never covered,

                                         placed on the lamp stand of the Christ,

                                         who shines most in the darkest places.

Light of God, shine on me!

Jesus Christ, lift up my eyes to the light!

The kingdom is everywhere shining

                              but seldom seen,

                           so blinding in Christ,

                              yet easily dismissed.

The humble God has hidden his light, his kingdom,

                                     in the Suffering Servant, Jesus,

                                     in the humble Teacher, Jesus,

                                     even in the wandering pilgrims

                                               who follow Jesus;

                                     hidden from those who think they know,

                                        but shown to those who want to know;

                                     hidden from those who are satisfied,

                                        but shown to those who are hungry;

                                     hidden from those who want to hide,

                                        but shown to those who want to walk in the light;

                                     hidden from the eyes,

                                        but shown to the ears.

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If you have ears in order to hear, listen!

                  Listen to a kingdom unseen.

                  Listen to its Teacher,

                                    who holds up the kingdom in his words.

                  Listen so that you may see!

                  Open your ears and look!

Lord, may your kingdom call out to me!

The value of the kingdom in found in its weight.

        Does it weigh in your heart?

        What is its measure?

        Your ear is the balance of the heart

                weighing one thing against another.

        What weighs upon you?

surrenderedmarriage

The kingdom is heavier than it looks.

        far denser in its love, joy, and peace

             than it seems,

        seeming small compared to the world

             and yet heavier than this kingdom of the air,

        impossible to carry

             until Jesus picks up the other end.

Seek the kingdom of God with your ears.

Seek its light in the dark noise.

Seek its hiddenness from those who hide from God,

Seek its weight of love and glory

  and everything else will be yours.

Half-hearted half-listening will not bring half of the kingdom,

  but nothing.

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.

Let your word grow this kingdom in my heart.

(A Meditation on Mark 4:21-25)