Unstinginess..

After hearing a retelling of some of The Béma podcast.. on generosity and the children of Abraham.

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Oh God you are so gen-er-ous yourself.

If Abraham, who lived so gen'rously

with guests who came his way, was not all health,

but had his problems, immaturities;

then, somehow, I am heartened by those who, 

would see themselves as progeny of him,

so they would step out, like him, trusting you,

to somehow make "ends meet", and "back" that whim.

I want to be more like him in that thing,

and less like him in other ways where he

would trust his insights, but not you who'd bring

them all to him, and help him thus to see.

His fear of others' jealousy and greed,

turns out to be an insight in this world.

But could he trust you with these other needs,

just like he learned to do when folk were hurled

at him by you (and even when you came

to him in guise of strangers there yourself).

In all his life on Earth, you hardly blamed

him for these immaturities, unwealths.

You simply took his friendship, grew his trust

within the bounds that he would let that be

(you rarely forced his hand, unless you must

(or chose to) 'coz you saw what love could see),

encouraged him by sharing your own thoughts,

and list'ning to his fears, unfounded as

they may well be (like when you drew his short-

straw, and he thought you'd foster injustice).

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cf. A woman I know well, with her grandchildren; &

Jesus' words on giving (not as a self-serving mechanism for gaining kudos) and that euphemism for generosity (bright eyes), and stingyness (dull eyes): [in a translation called The Message, where the translator tries to capture this:

“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have! “You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both. “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:19‭-‬34 MSG

The juxtaposition of generosity and stinginess (and its synonyms).

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Help us please!

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Oh God, please give us wisdom so to see

and know in ways appropri’te to what’s known,

or rather who is known, so one day we

will know the same way we ourselves are known.

That kind of knowledge is to really love,

experience in ways most per-son-al,

to show the care that comes here like a dove

to indicate our state of late, and well,

to show how things might look, give future hope

to help us keep expectant, dreaming too

of what might be, and ways that we might cope

- not on our own, of course, there’s others who

will help, including animals, birds, fish,

those creeping, crawling, flying, gifts from God,

And maybe other structures, as we wished

to make up, to help do the job we’ve got.

Please also help in ways that we relate

with other humans in this enterprise

to love them as ourselves, to never hate

a person, since they aren’t whom you despise.

Ambassador of Jesus, who was wise,

reminded us that ou-r battle's not

with human (or with animal) who tries

to do alternate actions, but we’ve got

an enemy more wily than you’d guess,

that's: wearing world-view glasses which detract

or help me miss the love of God in mess,

instead of incarnating love - in act.

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Please pray for Wisdom & Love for two friends regarding their ways of relating to each other, to resist the Devil (& all world-views that leave God out of the picture, or put God as less than the centre and source) and all systems, machinery & mechanisms that start to be viewed in such a way that they leave open the claim that love is "not necessary", and in fact may be "nonexistent". "We can explain everything without God, that is without Love"- instead of being and acting out ourselves, a response to such overwhelming love.) 

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contributing within routine…

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Oh God! I'm feeling grumpy here. It's me.

I have all these i-de-als in my head, 

of what a fam'ly or community

would be, and how your nature's lived, and said,

or talked about within this world of yours.

And how your kids would live within this world.

As though they'd be at home here, just because

this is the home you made, wherein they're curled.

And how folk could be thinking of those who

are round about them, since you helped that be.

And somehow you could grow them up like you

to love, and be mature, and set them free.

But here I am a foetus human be-

ing little like a god, and less like Love.

I'm glad you sent that fellow here to see

what life is like for us, and to recove-

er us, in ou-r tantrums, and ways set

by shellfish creatures that can't bend much yet

would hope to trap what floats by, which we get

by slamming shut, or filt'ring like a net.

I here recall his words to fishers who

could use a hook, or net, to catch some fish.

I understand him not to mock (as do

some folk) the tradesman who work well, and wish

to do what makes them in society

contributors who don't depend upon

the others, when they give to them they see

a servant who leads each and ev'ryone.

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What general principles, or instances

of truly good folk, seem to shed for you 

some light upon these issues, more or less,

& help you to think all of these things through?

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Compassionate (or Non-Violent) Communication

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Creative Care, I'm glad you've helped some folk

before me to see ways compassionate

of hearing well the stuff that is no joke, 

but key to being human, passionate.

Observing, looking, list-en-ing; once heard,

recalling fairly what events went down, 

communicating truth, with loving word,

when time and place are fitting, without frown,

or censure, but withholding judgement for

as one implied "You won't have all the facts."

Then bringing out some hidden ones so more

are made known to these folk. Such thing impacts

relating, with the people who have heard. 

Instead of keeping all my cards real close,

I'm acting as a friend would do with words;

I'm naming, bringing out, to then disclose

my feelings, so in truth they're kept "at bay",

not just let go on high seas as they'd like.

On top of that, my inner needs today

are then walked out, as though they're on a hike.

And I must do the work of judging what

are truly needs, or just my wants/ desires,

before I open up. And when they've got

that info, they could shoot me down in  fire.

And then framing request of whom I'm with,

in order to fulfill my spoken need.

As well as then receiving all of this,

from others too, as though we'll grow good seed.

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don't want to shirk ... my first work

I won't shirk…my first work…

Look out for first things first, then work the rest 

around the edges, where they aid, abett,

or maybe will miss out, for time will test

and help determine what will be as yet…

Check first of all, the base, the main thing which

gives all the rest a space where they can fit,

because it gives the place where they are  stitched,

and all the rest are blessed when they're on it.

Some things, ideas, habits of the mind

are more resilient, and hold others up

and let them show their goods, so folk might find

them out. These can hold stuff as does a cup,

or bowl or plate - they let the rest combine, 

in ways that can help, give to all the rest

a chance for bigger purposes in time

(and maybe other modes) to coalesce

and bring a greater glory, beauty, good.

Yet other things, or habits, or ideas

might function well in spots, at least they could

still be incorporated, as are steers,

into a herd, or wether to a flock,

but won't be great as basis for long term.

They won't produce what can keep them in stock.

This isn't hopeless thinking, it's a berm

to help you keep on going well, in space 

and time that gives you pressure to create

and chances then, to draw (as well as trace)

on life, and love, and friendship with a mate!

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worship at work!

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Oh GOD, the fount and source of ev'ry good

that's come to us, in whose "reality"

we now exist. It's right that now we should

say "Thank you" as a little child says. We

at least can learn to see the good around

us, as you did and modeled for us there,

in that first poem-story of the ground

of all our being here, and breathing air.

The Father of Lights, the giver of days;

our biggest delight's to do as he says;

and where he says "choose", or "take off your shoes",

to trust we won't lose, and boldly know whose

we are, in this world, as Father's son was

with his spirit curled within us because

he breathed in his breath to clay of these bods,

though mortal in death, we'll shine with our God's

glory like sunshine that comes through the clouds,

each choice that's his/mine (in tandem) enshrouds

holy of holies, within this ol' tent;

worshiping lowlies, instead of "hell-bent!"

The priestly work in temple, offering

up° songs and thanks and prayers for good to lurk;

is herein started ev'ry time I sing

in glad surprise, or whistle while I work.

I'll take my fears like sheep and cattle to

the altar, with the turtle doves, and salt,

and offer them as offerings to you,

and do what you say to*, not be a dolt!

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°  Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Heb 13:15‭-‬16 NRSV-CI

*  Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen; your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground! And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.” Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Gen 4:1‭-‬16 NRSV-CI

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Bubby

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Text2me: … We have had a bubby girl! Born 7:35ish. She weighs 3.6 kilos and Mum laboured for around 3 hours and did not have any pain relief and was so beautiful and strong though the whole thing. I helped deliver her. …

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We thank you God! - the father of us all!

Your children are amazing! We are glad!

To even have a part to play 'sno small

thing - 'nfact that is the best role that we've had!

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ruler and judge*

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of all the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, .. and creatures that creep and crawl °

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"Oh Daddy," said the boy up to his Dad,

"I'm scared of that big animal out there.

It didn't know that many humans had

a nap in arvos, and made time to spare

within their lives, for anyone who comes

by, or drops in to see what could be done.

Or else that humans might do all their sums,

assess, and say "No more! - Though it's been fun."

The animal weighs all it's instincts up,

along with its desires at current time,

and too with any training since a pup,

or cub, or calf, ..  out comes what's been designed.

And we ourselves are also animals,

with all those options that they have, and yet,

the option's there for us, above the smells 

and pheromones, to choose and also bet.

But if we put an animal in charge

of us, instead of ruling wise and well

- they can be faster, see further, be large-

er than we are, but can't save Earth from Hell.

I know the HUMAN one, who's called the Son

of Adam (meaning True Humanity)

he freely chose, as wisdom would have done,

abstaining hellish animality,

and said he led us right, past "life" that's dead.

And I believe him. Those few stories did

the trick in op-en-ing inside my head,

and pouring in potential, as they slid!

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*  From the backstory to the Jewish Passover remembrance meal: "One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and saw their forced labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his kinsfolk. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, he saw two Hebrews fighting; and he said to the one who was in the wrong, “Why do you strike your fellow Hebrew?” He answered, “Who made you a ruler and judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh. He settled in the land of Midian, and sat down by a well. After a long time the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out. Out of the slavery their cry for help rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God looked upon the Israelites, and God took notice of them. Ex 2:11‭-‬15‭, ‬23‭-‬25 NRSV-CI

Jesus, linking the popular thrust to look to him as a ruler and Judge, back to their bigger national story, that had been and was expected to come: "When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.” Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then he told them a parable:... So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” Lk 12:11‭-‬16‭, ‬21 NRSV-CI

From Steven (the first Christian Martyr's witness to the Jewish people in their Temple, tying their story in with Yeshua their Messiah, whom they missed: "But the man who was wronging his neighbor pushed Moses aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? … “It was this Moses whom they rejected when they said, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ and whom God now sent as both ruler and liberator through the angel who appeared to him in the bush." Acts 7:27‭, ‬35 NRSV-CI

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°  From the first oracle in the Torah: Then God said, “Let us make adam in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created adam in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Gen 1:26‭-‬28‭, ‬31 (+see footnotes of NRSV-CI)

From a reflection on the first oracle in the Torah, in the days of the prophet- King David: JB PSALMS Chapter 8 Of David; For the choirmaster. On the … of Gath[*a] (+see footnotes of translations on verse 5 e.g. NASB)

1Yahweh, our Lord, 

  how great your name throughout the earth! 

  Above the heavens is your majesty chanted

2 by the mouths of children, babes in arms. 

  You set your stronghold firm against your foes 

  to subdue enemies and rebels.

3 I look up at your heavens, made by your fingers, 

  at the moon and stars you set in place –

4 ah, what is man that you should spare a thought for him, 

  the son of man that you should care for him?

5 Yet you have made him little less than a god, 

  you have crowned him with glory and splendour,

6 made him lord over the work of your hands, 

  set all things under his feet,

7 sheep and oxen, all these, 

  yes, wild animals too,

8 birds in the air, fish in the sea 

  travelling the paths of the ocean.

9 Yahweh, our Lord, 

  how great your name throughout the earth!

From a reflection on this reflection in light of Messiah's coming, and first anointing, but in the days when many still don't acknowledge him: "Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. But someone has testified somewhere, “What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them? You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor, subjecting all things under their feet.” Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Here am I and the children whom God has given me.” Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. Heb 2:5‭-‬18 NRSV-CI

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