Exiles and sojourners

After I Peter 2:9-12

We are called out 

from the mire that

is the world, called

to know we are

sojourners in this land

of exile. This is our land,

the land we came from,

and this is not our land;

this land is not our home.

Yet we are called to love

here as priests and witnesses,

our conduct in exile above

reproach, sojourners whose

very existence encourages,

illustrates, threatens,

glorifies, challenges, angers,

beautifies, attracts, exemplifies.

Ours is a life of contradictions.

So be it.

 

Photograph by Joakim Nadell via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

Noah: Saint and Sinner – Mark Daniels.

 

The New Year’s Prayer Challenge – Robb Brunansky at The Cripplegate.

 

“The Bird in the Tree,” poem by Ruth Pitter – Malcolm Guite.

 

Before – poem by Aubrey Brady at Rabbit Room Poetry.

We are still at war

After I Peter 2:9-12

We are a priesthood, yes,

called and chosen to proclaim

and live in the light, but we

are still at war with the passions

of the flesh. The struggle

is common to all of us, so while

we struggle individually we 

also struggle collectively. But

we know we are to keep

ourselves free from the passions

which seem to tear at us

with the talons of a hawk. We

are to keep our conduct

honorable, so when we are

called evildoers, when we

are criticized and condemned

for what is right, our conduct

and deeds are plain to see

and speak of the one who

chose us. The war continues.

 

Photograph by the British Library via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

Holy Bravery: How Christian Men Act Like Men – Greg Morse at Desiring God.

 

How Intellectuals Found God – Peter Savodnik at The Free Press.

Paupers to princes

After I Peter 2:9-12

We are paupers, mired

in our poverty, 

in our emptiness,

in our lack of purpose,

floundering in darkness.

And yet we are paupers

chosen, called to something

higher, far higher, called

to royalty, to holiness,

called to leave the darkness

and embrace the light, 

the marvelous light. And 

the emphasis is on “we;”

we are not alone, called

together with the others

chosen for the priesthood,

priests who have received

mercy.

 

Photograph by Annie Spratt via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

Christmas Poem – e.e. cummings at Kingdom Poets (D.S. Martin)

 

“The Burning Babe,” poem by Robert Southwell – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.

 

The Thief’s Good Works – Jackson Gravitt at The Gospel Coalition.