Organizing Threads

Micha 4:1-5

In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house
will be the highest of all —
the most important place on earth.

It will be raised above the other hills,
and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
People from many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of Jacob’s God.
There he will teach us his ways,
and we will walk in his paths.”
For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion;
his word will go out from Jerusalem.

The Lord will mediate between peoples
and will settle disputes between strong nations far away.
They will hammer their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will no longer fight against nation,
nor train for war anymore.

Everyone will live in peace and prosperity,
enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees,
for there will be nothing to fear.
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies
has made this promise!

Though the nations around us follow their idols,
we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever.

November 30 First Sunday of Advent

I am going to do something a little different this year: I’m going to try to do one post a day during Advent. Each day, using a scripture passage from the lectionary I will write, draw or create something — click on the image to enlarge it — that reflect something of that reading back to me.

Mark 13:24-37

“At that time, after the anguish of those days,

Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory. And he will send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that his return is very near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!

“The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”

Is there room for me? Just as I am?

My big fat secret.
Can’t talk about it.
Can’t even write about it yet.
It sits like a stone
in my belly.
Is there room at the table for this rock?

Love wins. LOVE WINS! Love wins?
What is love?
When is love wrong?
What happens when love ends?
Does love end?

“Dance me to the end of love!”
Dance me, O God, to the end of this ever expanding universe!
Dance me to the end of Love.