A Hand Reaching: Stronger Series - Tim Knipp (Mark 1:1-13; Mark 15:37-38)

When weakness shivers
our bones
and broken glass
cruelly carpets 
the path ahead,
the Stronger One 
is there
to lead us through.

Magnetic pressure
warps us out of plumb -
away from our ideal selves -
and statics our connection
to the Father.
Yet we stray into danger
again and again.

Into the murky Jordan
Jesus plunged.
As He rose, dripping,
God cracked heaven wide
in a galaxy grin
and showered blessing
down.
Once again the Spirit 
hovered over waters,
stirring up new life,
then pulled Jesus sandward.

Tramping
over sterile terrain, 
He faced pressures
to conform, to satisfy,
to escape pain, to play with power; 
tempted in every way as we are.
For forty days He
was assaulted,
bombarded, pulled
and pummeled,
yet did not give in.

Powerful forces
ignite turmoil,
draw us - willing or not -
into their whirlpools
and we drown.
Through waves
of shame and
self-loathing
the Stronger One
reaches a hand
to guide us back
to our 
True Selves.