Friday, February 26, 2010

happy lent (smirk)

So the title is a bit tongue in cheek. The following will either further enable your Lenten reflection or jolt you into a 40-46 day period of self-examination. Happy Lent!

As a man is nailed to the cross he first struggles and strives and cries out with great strength and might, but, as his blood and spirits waste, his strivings are faint and seldom, his cries low and hoarse, scarce to be heard; when a man first sets on a lust or distemper, to deal with it, it struggles with great violence to break loose; it cries with earnestness and impatience to be satisfied and relieved; but when by mortification the blood and spirits of it are let out, it moves seldom and faintly, cries sparingly, and is scarce heard in the heart; it may have sometimes a dying pang, that makes an appearance of great vigor and strength, but it is quickly over, especially if it be kept from considerable success.

"Sin," says [Paul], "is crucified; it is fastened to the cross."

- The Puritan Spiritual Writer and Theologian John Owen

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah... a poem

So I know what you're thinking: 'I come to this blog for the primary authors brilliance and ability to hold to the Word in the midst of so many words. But what's this? A poem?! Boring!'

Exactly what you were thinking right?

Well... yes it is a poem. The Latin translates to, "Man is naturally curved in upon himself."

Becoming Human


Homo curvatus en se es

-Martin Luther


We are not yet humans.


We are the whales that breach

our oceans with beautiful gestures,

only to soon sink into our own

vast recesses.


We await our evolution--

the hope thrown off between crashing

waves--when we are found


on the shore,

walking upright,

proclaiming mercy

to Ninevah.