Prologue: That other reflection on humanity starting with the humility of copying (& going to) our parent, (for understanding of what is good & bad), & led on to the "growth of understanding" concept, and the knowing & owning where we have come from, and what we are in essence - an amalgam of the dust of Earth, & the wind, or breath, or spirit of Heaven, and our ultimate need to keep connected to our source of life, as a fetus needs to be implanted to the uterus it is held in to continue growing & developing…
And humans can
then face beginning's start:
we've come from
humus* and God's mind, 'mouth', heart°.
It's life and death for under-standing-up,
for functioning to fill the dream of God,
creative love that would share its own cup
of joy, and peace, and grief< (what may seem odd
to our own mindset justified by 'self',
with pow-er over others - to enforce>)
and faithful suffering<, under what's helpf-
ull to the whole she-bang, and so of course
it's presence is to serve>, & not to shove,
one who has set up much, and can be called
upon to help within limits uncov-
ered as we live together in it all.
We look full in the face the facts of life:
we didn't make ourselves, like some AI.
We humans come from soil*, or humus* rife
with stable molecules, the dusts* which fly
up when a landslide happens, basic Earth.
But also what the storm from heaven blows
before it, mixed with breath° of God. Our birth
was never without love of one who knows
us well, and seeks our growth in strength and truth,
the children of both heavens and the earth,
creative love, commitment, is our roof,
and animal on floor, we'd be at birth
if we're not carried by a Wiser One,
who'll point out things, and speak to us, & sing.
And wisdom only comes to daughter, son
who'll gladly take, and learn to give^ a thing.
* Then the Lord God formed the Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the Adam became a living being. Genesis 2:7
° God's mind, mouth, heart: "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’ Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. Genesis 1:2, 26-29 NIVUK
Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no-one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’ The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’ Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. Genesis 2:5-8, 15-22 NIVUK
< joy, peace, grief… faithful suffering
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:11 NIVUK
‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ John 16:33 NIVUK
‘I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. John 17:13 NIVUK
I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 2 John 1:12 NIVUK
The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created – and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground – for I regret that I have made them.’ But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 6:5-8 NIVUK
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 NIVUK
Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
Lord, you understand; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering – do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake. Jeremiah 15:15 NIVUK
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22 NIVUK
Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel. Psalms 78:41 NIVUK
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.vMatthew 5:4 NIVUK
if we are faithless, he remains faithful— he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:13 NRSVUE
>Serve
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ Matthew 20:28 NIVUK
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ Mark 10:45 NIVUK
Unless you change and so become like small
(or very little) children (from above,
not just down here, below),
wou never will appreciate at all
or enter into (or under) that love-
that longs for us to grow
like him - the way he cares for even Paul÷
to be filled up with his way that won't shove.
His sheep gladly folllow!
+ the name Paul is Greek in origin, and it means "small".
(Matt 11:25;18:3;19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 10:21; 18:16; John 13:33; 1 John 2:1,12, 18, 28; 3:7; 3:18; 4:4; 5:21)
° the ancients (using both Hebrew & Greek languages) had one word for what we divide into our concepts of wind, breath, energy, spirit. So the ideas could be poetically conflated, or switched between, with no different words being needed. More fun for poetry!
^ "It is more blessed to give, than to receive" - Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:35)
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
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