... in God's pocket ...

I am reading Isaiah 43:1-5, where God promises redemption and restoration to his people. God, who created us, then redeemed us with a huge ransom (people and countries - and later, Jesus). After God created us, we were lost to sin. He redeemed us because "you are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you." WOW! I am His. He called me by name. He redeemed me at an enormous cost because of His great love for me!

I think of a beautiful gold pocket watch, very valuable, that ends up in a pawn shop, taken from its rightful owner, collecting dust on the shelf. Jesus, the priceless sacrifice, gives His life to redeem the beautiful thing and restore me to the rightful owner, my God who created me. Now I give Him pleasure by being nearby, as a pocket watch gives pleasure by its beauty, craftsmanship, the ticking sound. The watchmaker loves his watch that he made. He knows it intimately, as God does me, and takes deep pleasure in restoring it to himself even at such a great cost.

As I think of myself as the beautiful pocket watch in God's hand, ticking, my face - the watch face - looking up at Him as He gazes with joy on his reclaimed creation, I am moved to tears of joy and love in response. I am just ticking away, resting in His hand, just being me - just being a watch, just steadily keeping time.  All God asks of me is this.

Isaiah 43

1 But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.

3 For I am the Lord your God,    

       the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

4 Because you are precious in my eyes,

    and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
    peoples in exchange for your life.

5 Fear not, for I am with you;
    I will bring your offspring from the east,
    and from the west I will gather you.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

true colours - that's why i love you

I sing with the choir on Sunday mornings at St. John The Evangelist Anglican Church in Port Hope, Ontario. I am grateful that we altos sit on the north side of the chancel, which gives me a great view of the spring sunshine pouring in through the beautiful and ancient stained glass windows on the south wall. I love stained glass of all sorts, and the liturgy lends itself at some moments to quiet contemplation, which is my chance to gaze off into the colours and lights of the glass, melted by the sunlight into brilliance. The tinted rays splash joyfully over the congregants, who are seemingly completely oblivious to how they are contributing to the decoration of the church by reflecting the light in this way.

As I drift, I realize that Community is a stained glass window. Our community at St. John's is made up of all sorts and conditions of humanity. Each member is a piece in the completed puzzle of the window. Each one has unique facets - the particular colour, texture and transparency of the glass; the size and shape it's cut into; how it harmonizes, contrasts or clashes with the nearby pieces; how it has been linked into the overall image by thicker or thinner lines of lead. Some of these pieces may be retrieved from the discarded bits of other works, or reclaimed from brokenness. Some may have cracks or chips. Some may be cut from new, whole glass fresh from the factory. No matter - they all take their place in the picture. And most importantly - they all allow the sun to shine through them to illuminate the world for those who wish to see.

Here I am, being myself, showing my true colours. Be brave; trust in God and do the same. The Great Artisan chose you and me personally, put us together, right there in the picture, in exactly the right spot. Let the Light shine through!

I see your true colors / And that's why I love you / So don't be afraid to let them show /  Your true colors.              

Cyndi Lauper - True Colors Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

True Colors | YouTube 

the prayer of a traveller on the Way

Today, Lord -

Cradle me in Your loving presence.
Wash me afresh; remove the dust from
This weary pilgrim.
I see the oasis - let me reach it and exult
In the abundance you have provided;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit as I do the moisture in the air
From Your spring of Living Water.
I drink and am satisfied
Once, and for always. 

(c) Laurie Robertson 2017 

strike the right note

My prayer corner contains a small Tibetan brass singing bowl. I can strike it with the small wooden mallet, or I can run the mallet steadily around the outside of the rim until the bowl begins to hum. With care and experience, a rich singing tone results and the air is filled with it. I occasionally luck into this moment, and just as fast as it came, it's gone! I keep trying.

But whether by striking the side or by stroking the rim, the bowl produces a vibrating tone that first rings out, then gradually dies in volume, and I lean my ear closer and closer to catch every bit of this sweet music. Eventually the singing stops. However, something has changed. Before the mallet was employed, the room was silent, true - but now the silence is deep with significance. As I focus in on the diminishing voice of the bowl, the world recedes and I am able to be quiet. And I must be quiet in the presence of my Gardener, as God is known to whisper, and I long to hear that still, small voice.

Now that I am quiet, I contemplate the mallet itself. I rub it smooth with a hard tool, and polish it with beeswax as I consider how God is doing the same to me. The small knots in the wood - one of which goes right through to the other side - are signs of where the original branch was pruned. God has pruned me, leaving scars of healing, grace, and mercy, and shaping me for a purpose. As I polish, I see depths of colour and grain in the wood that I had not noticed before - details, facets that otherwise could not have been seen. My loving Parent also polishes me until I shine with Light. Others will see and glorify the Great Artisan who has made this His creature into a thing of beauty as well as a tool fit for its purpose. The work is ongoing ...

And just as the polished wooden mallets strikes a tone out of the bowl, may I strike the right note as I sound out for God. May I always ring true!

initial musings ...

Writing a blog is something which millions have tried, and they petered out - even me, on my last try. Why should this one be any different? Perhaps because it's mostly for my own benefit. I am planted in God's Garden and grafted onto the One True Vine - Jesus Christ. As the Master Gardener tends me, prunes and trains me, and coaxes me to bear fruit in its season, I have ideas and insights that I'd like to record here - seeds and nutrients to inspire myself and others. May you be enriched as you spend time in the Garden with me.

John 15:1-9 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 

Beloved, let us remain in the Vine together. Amen.