But whoever did want him,
who believed he was who he claimed
and would do what he said,
He made to be their true selves,
their child-of-God selves.
These are the God-begotten,
not blood-begotten,
not flesh-begotten,
not sex-begotten.
~ John 1:12-13
“All things come into being by conflict of opposites.”
~ Heraclitus
We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on.
That’s who we really are.
– J.K. Rowling, author (b. 31 Jul 1965)
Okay…so today is upside down, or at least different that the usual format that I present to you. I have come to lead with one quote, follow with scripture, comment, pray and close. Today, Things are upside down already. I ran across the quote by Heraclitus first. I read it and thought, how interesting, wonder what scripture the Lord has for me today. I also read a word-of-the-day every day on my way to the devotional. At the bottom of this day’s particular word, was the quote by J.K.Rowling. I read it and again wondered what scripture the Lord had for me today. Especially because it seemed we had a repetition of the “opposite” idea. Then I proceeded to the scripture which began, in the version I was reading (The Message) with :
“The Life-Light was the real thing:
Every person entering Life
he brings into Light.
He was in the world,
the world was there through him,
and yet the world didn’t even notice.
He came to his own people,
but they didn’t want him.
I began with the scripture today, because it was the natural beginning /contrast against the first quote I found, and the second. I could actually see what appears to be happening in my life right now.
Yesterday was a light/dark day. A beloved editor shared their feedback on a poem and it cut through me with the edge of truth. There were tears.
Two friends requested a change in plans, there were tears
I started to look at social media, saw all the pictures of what I used to do with my kids in the summers when we used to cram so much into July that it needed an extra day or two, I missed not only those years, but my own parents, and family who are mostly gone…there were floods.
I spoke with an author friend, and she reminded me of the cloud of witnesses who were in heaven cheering me on. She affirmed the rareness of my parents and they way I was raised, she listened and met my tears with love and light. She proposed that perhaps I was the “sweetness” which my surroundings sometimes lack, and that my job was just that, to be the sweetness. There were cleansing tears then.
I showed up for a poetry reading a week early the entrance was blocked, I had to find another way in, the librarian called me “ma’am,” which under many circumstances would have been fine, but when she asked me if I was sure of the library where the event was being held, in that, “perhaps you’re just confused little old lady” tone, I said thank you, started on my way to the car, and just before there were tears, my husband invited me to have some TCBY instead of going right home. That was lovely.
Not feeling my usual “get up and go” and uncomfortable with that being okay. Finding a new pace, enjoying the time to write, feeling the pull to buy school supplies (which I did for my poetry students…) light and dark, stop and go, walk and run, rush and relax, feeling the need to apply for a job, fully expecting I could do anything I set my mind to…and then the scripture.
Juxtaposed against the quotes. (My husband asked me to at least try retirement before I go applying for a job again…my kids asked me to take one whole year before I do anything…ugh! and ow! and oh…sting of truth.)
I need to accept that whatsoever state I am in, there will be joy, and light, and dark, and laughter, and tears.
Today, walk into the light of His grace, watch for the new entrance and rejoice no matter what.
Lord, hold me, let your grace work in me, your love guide my steps, even when the entrance seems blocked. I give you the glory, the honor, the thanks.
Because of Him,
Linda
You Say – Lauren Daigle
Because of Him 