I thought it was a wonderful connection that this was the poem in response to a lectionary passage yesterday, a day I was able to share spoken word at an event promoting International Community:
The River of God, now flowing
Through the city, here to John revealed
Where Heaven and earth have come together
Where the nations will come and be healed
Twelve kinds of fruit, trees are bearing
On both sides there grows Tree of Life
Reconciled where once there was conflict
Joy and peace where once there was strife
Twelve kinds of fruit, and twelve tribes
Here the people of God from all nations
We are revealed the purposes of God
As He offers humanity salvation
We are not today offered a ticket
To hold onto until we expire
We are not told to endure a bit longer
Until we have all we desire
We are transformed to reflect His heart
Toward the healing of nations in pain
To see His face, to live in His Light
To join in revealing His reign
Lord Jesus, may I join that great river
That flows from Your Throne out to all
To a world that is thirsty and waiting for You
May our lives today echo Your call
Recently I was invited to write a spoken word for a church, in response to the “Beatitudes” from Matthew chapter 5. These are the words I wrote, spoken…
To mouths untasting and eyes that may seem blind: Here we pause to find – living Words of Salt and Light to help us do more than understand Living in a land, bland and shadowed We hear the call to Kingdom Living Giving that which we could never create, as fate finds itself defeated By the One who interceded – Christ speaks still today Through those standing in the fray, living in the Spirit empowered Way He has revealed Both those who have been healed, and those desperate still for healing We find Kingdom revealing in these – more than simply platitudes We call them the beatitudes Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who’ve come near it but never quite arrived Or thrived the way this world pretends. Their desire transcends the offers of this realm, yearning for Jesus on the Throne His Kingdom is their own. Blessed are those who moan, and mourn, Suffering – born of living against the norm, and weathering the storms too fierce to be calmed Theirs is the balm of Gilead, with Jeremiah we seek As we continue to hear Jesus speak We hear him whisper – “Blessed are the meek.” Those who quiet their own voice enough to hear, when Jesus himself is near, It becomes clear the noises of this world are often simply distracting, Acting is if they could offer new birth, but theirs is not the earth, it is passed down from Father to child – to those He reconciled. Blessed are those with a Divinely wild hunger and thirst – Those for whom a burst of spiritual enthusiasm could never pass They will not only amass what is sought and could never be bought by religion, but be filled overflowing by His provision. Blessed are those who show mercy and compassion Beyond the trends and fashion – to sacrificial loving, extra mile and going aboving For they will receive the same – in the Name of Jesus The one who frees us to be Blessed as those pure in heart, Those who would depart and turn from old ways, offering their days as a sacrifice of praise To break through this world’s facade – for they will see the face of God. Blessed are those who not only cause violence to cease, or slow its’ increase, But actively seek to create new peace For they will not only hear applause begin – they will be called His kin Children of the most high, those responding to the cry of oppression Those who question the injustice of a system so broken Not just a token representation, but as a citizen of a nation known as New Creation But know the world will not always embrace, any member of the human race that presents a case For repentance. Still – blessed are those who struggle for what is right, for yours is the light of the Kingdom. As you bring them all I’ve inspired, you may still find some wired to view my invitation to reconcile as something vile or offending Rejoice – for I’ll never stop sending my love for them, Just as I have for you. So many have come before, as I continue to restore my grand redemption There is no exemption. Only places and moments in need Oppressed who continue to bleed Hungry mouths to feed Systems built on greed Wheat overgrown with weed
Recently I was able to read an advance copy of the new book by Curt Thompson, M.D. “The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, & Community“. Having read and enjoyed Thompson’s previous books, I was excited to read his most recent contribution. As a Christian we believe there are unseen realms beyond the physical world that we are most familiar with. But we also do not seek a “spiritual realm” connection that is separate from the embodied existence we (and Jesus) share. Instead, we seek a greater understanding of how God has created us and woven our existence together as physical/spiritual beings. Because of this, we can gain much from modern studies of neuroscience as they relate to our relationships.
Thompson has already written much on the neurology of interpersonal relationships, attunement, integration, and secure attachments. In his previous books, he has explored (among other things) how telling our stories can be redemptive/healing/formative, how “being known” by each other and by God is something our souls are hungry for, and how unhealthy shame can keep us from one another and from God.
In this most recent book, he brings some of this same knowledge back in fresh ways, while also giving practical insight into how healing comes to the dis-integrated relationships and situations we often find ourselves in. Dr. Thompson does a great job of being honest about our brokenness (both as society/culture, and as individuals), and yet highlighting how God’s desire is to bring beauty and New Creation; not just after we’ve been healed, but as part of the healing and redemptive process.
Thompson highlights how much of the relational pain/isolation we currently experience is connected to the unmet core “Desires” we see reflected in infants/children, and our common responses to those continued desires being met in unhealthy ways as we grow. I’m over-simplifying, but he emphasizes there are 4 primary desires we all have: to be seen, to be soothed, to be safe, and to be secure. He explores how the insights of IPNB (Interpersonal Neurobiology) offer us fresh understanding not only as we seek greater relational intimacy between one another, but also as we seek to draw closer to a God who invites us to know Him even as we are known and loved by Him. He returns over and over again to Psalm 27 (especially verse 4) in confessing what we’ve been created to truly seek.
Thompson spends a lot of time in this book, highlighting specific experiences of healing and redemption that have happened in the context of what he calls “Confessional Communities”. He talks also about four foundational questions we are asked by God – not for information, but toward transformation. As we read his accounts, we hear whispers similar to those of John Wesley’s heart as he developed Methods of Classes and Bands, inviting people to experience the vulnerability of confession and forgiveness in the context of secure & Divinely loving relationships. He does not offer a cookie cutter “program” in response to all of the research he presents here, but he does present inspiring truth and invites his readers to imagine (along with/in the presence of a curious God) what might happen if we pursued these things together in healthy/integrating ways.
This is not an easy book to simply say “read this with a group”. It may be best individually, or with close friend/”Band” at first. There are awkward and vulnerable moments throughout the book that may make small groups or book clubs uneasy. But I definitely recommend the book for mature/discerning audiences, and believe the truths it points toward can offer new paths for healing and wholeness in our relationships and in our communities – in ways that proclaim the gospel message our world definitely needs to see and hear.
words from wick 