A change of vision

Knitting-
you start with casting on stitches, and go from there to, row by row, build a shape.
Sentences-
you start with choosing words, one at a time, to build a sentence shaping your thought, feeling etc.



Words have texture, like fabric - they touch you -
                              leaving behind feelings, impressions, associations, pictures.


Well, you know that - but

One thing is knowing this fact, another is running headfirst into it -be changed by it.
                                                             
                                                                I did, I was!
                                                          All based on a word.



Jesus said; " Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
and again; " I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. John 10:11


We say Jesus gave his life for us. Which he did. He died on the cross for us - 
                                                   died an agonizing physical death.
                                                
                                                           Astounding sacrifice!


It is Easter weekend, and the celebration sentence is; Jesus died and rose again.
                                                      
                                                          Jesus died and rose again.


This sentence drew a picture in my mind - Narnia, by C.S. Lewis, often has door frames involved as entries into a different world. Or when the end has come in one place the door frame marks the crossing over to a new beginning.




Jesus died and rose again - he hung on the cross, gave over his spirit to God and died.
             
                                         Walked through the door frame - crossed the threshold......
With this picture we went from Good Friday to Easter Sunday in one step - in the blink of an eye.

                                          photo by Bente's Photography

Is that what happened?




Remember my starting point; words have texture -
                              now take the word 'soul'..........compare it with the word 'life'


Isaiah 53:10 " Yet it was the will of the Lord (God) to crush him (Jesus), he has put him to grief, when his soul makes an offering for guilt......."
and verse 11; "Out of the anguish of his soul, he shall see and be satisfied...."


These verses are not talking about his life - but his soul!
 Going back to John 15 and 10 if translated correctly should read;


   "No greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his soul for his friends." &
   "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his soul for his sheep."


                                                      Jesus paid with his soul........

                                                       
                                               a soul in anguish versus a body in pain.


      
             I hear the words, 'taste' them, let them roll over me, touch me, sink deep
         "... make his soul an offering for sin..." - "Out of the anguish of his soul...."

Something is shifting inside me - because this goes beyond skin and bones and surface pain, however severe.
Oh, this goes deeper -
 I hear his plea to his Father in the garden again; "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass by me....."

                                                   my inner gaze shifting....

                                       -shifting from the door frame and threshold to

something deeper,
                                stretched out,
                                                                  daunting and dark;

- this is what I see now                    photo by Bente's Photography


                                                     A tunnel long enough to last three days.



             May this heart of mine be forever filled with gratitude, love and praise for my Lord and Savior.


-b