The Big Story of the Bible - Prologue - Tim Knipp

Fill Us Up: Shared Direction 2 - Christian Lindbeck (Heb. 10; Acts 1:8, 2:1-8; 1 Tim. 2:4; Acts 4:19-20, 29-31)

What's the heart
of this journey we're on?
Shall we go first class,
in comfort,
complacent and entitled?
Shall we crawl
on bloodied, gravel-encrusted knees,
intent on martyrdom,
self-focused
and self-righteous?

Or shall we wait,
intent and receptive
to the Holy Spirit's 
scalpel?

If we're traveling well,
the earth will tremble,
resistance will be the norm,
yet we'll press on.

We should be antonyms
to our cultural norms,
continually speaking truth
though ears seem closed
and scoffers turn stiff backs
or encroach threateningly.

Give us Holy Spirit vision
to see beyond denial
and cynicism - 
bricks built up to barricade
us from one another.

Give us Holy Spirit power
to melt shields
with patient persistence,
waves upon stones.

As we rest,
fill us up -
expose us to ourselves
and hold us 
as we weep
for shame; 
Light the flame again
and fan it 
into life-giving 
light.

Oasis Stopover: Shared Direction 1 - Christian Lindbeck (Gal. 6:9; Heb. 10: 23-25)

We are nomads,
traveling along 
the arc of time
together.
Unchecked,
we will eventually 
creak and crack
and wander.

So we pause
to survey maps
and reassess goals,
checking in with each other,
looking back over 
our recent journey
to celebrate,
and critique; 
looking forward
to plan pathways
and rest stops.

Re-invigoration:
a new wave of energy
that confirms
the relevance
and necessity 
of good deeds,
exhausting as 
they may well be
at times.

Enjoy this oasis
to recreate,
re-connect,
and dream.