Called to the vineyard

Jeremiah 29:7-13

Called to the vineyard,

this broken and battered place

of tangled vines and rotting grapes,

called to this vineyard, this city of exile,

you will be battered in this city

you will be broken in this city

because that is the work

of calling to this city of exile

because that’s what it’s about

in this city of exile,

this broken, battered place.

Joy yes but brokenness and

violence and he knows because

he lived it in this city of exile

and being called here

has a point

has a purpose

and the point is called salt

and the purpose is called light. 

Photograph by Zoltan Tasi via Unsplash. Used with permission.

The peace of the city

After Jeremiah 29:7-13

There is a city on a hill

and there is a city at the bottom

of the hill, a city in the plain:

a city of peace, a city without

a city of wealth, a city without

a city of live and kindness

a city without

a city safe and secure

a city of violence

a city that’s home

a city that’s exile.

Seek the peace of the city of exile.

Seek the safety of the city of exile.

Seek this city of exile.

Seek it.

Seek its streets.

Walk its lanes

Visit its homes.

Seek it.

Photograph by Dan Gold via Unsplash. Used with permission.