Experience - Know Thyself

"Strangely out of place/ there is a light filling this room/ where none would follow before/ I can't deny it burns me up inside/ fan the flames to melt away my pride/ Do I want shelter from the rain, or the rain to wash me away?" - Jars of Clay (I need You).

Examine Yourself - Is there anything that you would change? There are certain attributes that rust more easily and tarnish quicker than we might wish. There are certain traits that we hold out of comfort rather than need or purpose. What would you like to be? If you are already there, I am happy for you, but to the rest of us - Why are we not there yet?

"I have no fear of drowning, it's the breathing that's taking all this work." - Jars of Clay (Work)

This group longs and pines but cannot achieve their mission single-handedly. In Psalms 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Trees are interesting in nature, reaching for the sky while their roots dig deeply, drinking in the water of life. I am not much for spiritual euphemisms, because it rubs others the wrong way - it this is not the only authoritative way to interpret this passage. The Word of God is living and breathing, showing truth to those who wish to live in the light.

I love metaphors, but need to discern when they are applicable rather than showy. Jesus spoke in parables, so that his audience could have a handle on the eternal from the examples in their everyday lives. Even in this modern age - shared experiences are useful for communicating thoughts, emotions, and meaning. That song on the radio was compatible with my mood at the time. That character from that movie channeled how I was feeling inside. Remember when our friend did that really foolish act?

Experiences allow us to see ourselves and our friends more clearly, giving us a shared lens from which to view our lives. Until the Eternal becomes the Everyday, these parables are all the glimpse we shall have of the Kingdom of Heaven. Listen well, for it is Exceedingly Abundantly, above all we may imagine...