Originally published Thursday, 30 July 2015.
This may be the oddest blog post you have ever read, but I am just going to go with it - brace yourself...
My writing chair, is more of a writing chaise, it faces my patio where I watch birds peck around for their next God-promised meal, pesky groundhogs graze on my grass and raccoons duck their heads into the light.
But, what my eye is drawn to the most is that small, sweet little chipmunk - the one that so often pounces around my (ahem, dead) flowers.
I love these little chipmunks. They are so sweet, so precious, so free of long tails, glowing night eyes and stinky smells. They touch my heart because when I look at them - I see innocence. Pure, humble innocence. Not savage instinct, but a joyful presence. They are the good amidst the smelly. The humble amidst the powerful.
Christ kind of looks this way too - the spotless lamb that shines out among dirty humanity.
The pure vessel amidst the ugliness of sin.
The joy to behold in a world that has a ravage hunger for everything it can consume.
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 1 Pet. 2:22
Singular purity.
All-encompassing morality.
The definition of unity.
Jesus - a walking breathing sacrifice, always giving, completely offering, genuinely treading earth for those who need his touch - a spotless, sweet, pure and whole example.
And, while the chipmunk is no equal to the Savior of the World, the chipmunk surely has been created by him. And, he shines his glory all the same, because all creation has been made in adoration.
all things have been created through him and for him. 1 Col. 1:16
I guess this is why God kind of stopped me in my tracks this morning (literally).
You see, as I drove my car, I saw him. Right in the center of the road - my chipmunk.
Dead. Pure. Humble. Small. Run over by the world.
My heart broke.
Just lying there, on the ground.
Slain, undeserving of that pain.
Like the pure one. The beaten one. Driven over by our sin. Thrust down even though he offered so much. White as snow and humble down the road to death.
We forget that image sometimes. I forget it.
But, I don't want to forget. I want to remember. I want to hold it like a locket over my heart that protects all the goodness, the love and the renewal packaged within.
I want to hold it so tightly that it seeps right out of me into the savagery of this world.
To the customer service lady who drives me up the wall.
To the husband who had too quick of a retort.
To the bills that stack high.
To the children who need a little too much.
To the poor who I would rather not see.
To the friend who really does need a helping hand.
To the coveted time I don't want to dole out.
To my heart that can't forgive - or forgive itself for that matter.
May his purity laid down for us, seep right into us and out of us. He loves us that much.
Cleanliness, slain - to reach our pain.
Hope, released - and purpose gained.
Life, secured - so we may endure.
None for him and all for me.
Today, let's join the impending orchestra of all creation as we sing his truth:
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" Rev. 5:13
One day, every knee will bow, tongue confess, mouth sing, heart see, eye understand who is King.
One day all will know,
until then, let's live today like we do.
Knowing, not just saying...
Giving, not just mouthing...
...to the one and only. To the one who deserved royalty, a crown, an 11-course tasting menu, the heights of glory, the strength of power, but who endured the status of the worst sinner, the ridiculed idiot and the lowly donkey rider.
Let's lift our hands to him today.
Let's see his glory reign today.
To the one who lives, holds all power and waits for our much-anticipated arrival.
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