Tag: Christianity

Posted in Uncategorized

healing words.

Posted on by Wick

Others have said it already – “Salvation means creation healed.” I pray these words can provide a quiet moment spent listening to the heart of the healer.

“healing words.” (a spoken word poem)

In this left-brained world with anxieties hurled once for every breath
With very little left in the well from which we draw
We find it easy to name, but less permission gained to take a pause
To cease inspecting our flaws, or applying gauze to fresh wounds
To step back and give room,
from being those who consume
To be those who receive
You may not even believe, but for a moment, allow
Unfurrow your brow, and close your eyes, just for now
Open the door to the brain on the right, imagine the light
That illuminates not a fight, but a peace,
As anxieties cease, not that we decrease our thought
But we are no longer caught up in the logic of despair
Finding care that reaches out in our direction
Slowing down for reflection upon such a choice,
we hear a voice
One that has been whispering since we were born…

“I was there when you were formed. Before you were even given name
I assembled your frame within the womb. As a groom pursues his bride,
I’ve opened my arms wide that you might abide here with me.
But you see, this world is not what I had in mind
The free will that blinds humanity, convinced of their own way
Has caused so much delay in the life I have willed
So many dreams, stilled by my gracious approach
Not wanting to encroach or force my own
Not to impose my throne, yet unable to deny
To turn away from me, is to choose to die
For I Am, Love and Life itself, a wealth that runs deeper than gold
No matter what you’ve been sold, you’re set free from all your debts
Here my forgiveness begets New beginning
Whether you’re swimming upstream, or just barely up to surface
Feeling you don’t deserve this, because shame is in season
But there is no reason from me to turn, nothing here to earn
All that is given for free, completely
My child, I desire to bless
I invite you to come and confess, not because I don’t already know
But to show a heart that is open, beyond just hoping
This will be the best choice in a long line of empty reminders
Blinders to the Love I’ve offered all along
Noise that has drowned out my song of delight
Morning, noon, and night,
I’ve always sung over you, that you might hear
Know that you are so dear, I’ve watched you – responding to fear
Unclear about your story. I assure you, you were born for glory.
But not the kind this world entices, by distractions and vices,
The deceiver aims to keep you moving, always disapproving
But never slowing, feeling like you’re owing
A debt you could never afford, its’ payments become your lord
But the cord stretches so thin, it begins to disappear
You forget what keeps you from being right here
Come closer, I Am, Jesus.

You’ve been pulled by strings impossible to see
But hear me – I’ve cut through them all.
You are free, even free to fall.
For anytime you call, I’m there already
Arms steady and strong, reminding you belong
To something much more grand
A glory this world does not understand
But I’ve planned a New beginning
Much more than simply winning
And already being revealed
As all wounds are healed in humanity and creation
As every tongue and every nation are united
All that once divided, burned away
So for today, stay.
Hear my heart for healing.
Join my love in revealing what’s in store
Not just as treatment, but as cure.
From all that brings dis-ease
My Love is that which frees”

Posted in Different Scriptures, Different Thoughts

Ash Wednesday/Lent 2024

Posted on by Wick

(The following “daily devotional” is part of a collaborative effort between several churches in the Wabash Conference of the Free Methodist Church to create a 40-day “Lent” Devotional that highlights traditional Spiritual Disciplines. Download the entire booklet here!)

I still remember the first time I prepared the ashes for “Ash Wednesday” as a pastor in 2010. I’d been in ministry about 7 years, and finally felt confident enough to invite the people I loved to participate in such a moment. I’d heard of “Ash Wednesday”, but it had always been something “those churches” do. Yet the more I studied, and regarded the benefits of such a practice, the more I recognized this was something all followers of Jesus could be blessed by.

So I saved the palm branches from Palm Sunday, and waited as they dried until the following February. I wanted to document the moment, so I set up my camera to record. I had a small metal coffee can and a handheld lighter. I collapsed the
dried palm branches into the can, and slowly lowered the flame into the can. It didn’t take long for the fire to start, and flames easily climbed over the edge of the can. In the video, you can see me looking up. Not looking into the sky, and not in a moment of inspired prayer. I was panicking, because I’d started this moment indoors, completely forgetting I wasn’t lighting candles on cake – I was starting a small bonfire.
I quickly moved my procedure outside where it was safe (and wouldn’t make the church smell like marijuana). It was a humbling moment, and I was reminded of the fragile nature of all things flammable. I was also reminded of my own short-
sightedness, even when my heart is in the right place.

All of this became a great reminder for Ash Wednesday itself. As a practice, it didn’t officially begin until the 11th century or so. But God’s people throughout scripture have associated repentance with ashes. It brings a tangible expression to our
confession of helplessness. We are unable to save ourselves. We are unable to even earn the salvation available. We come to Jesus, fully depending on His Love, His Lordship over death itself, and His Grace. As Lent is a season of preparation to fully
celebrate His resurrection, it makes sense to begin it all by marking ourselves with a reminder: We are dust, and to dust we shall return. Or as some also declare: Repent, and believe the good news of Jesus.

Our world offers us a never-ending buffet of things to be proud of. We digitally curate our daily experiences for others to observe. We collect followers, titles, bank accounts or accomplishments. Yet as Christians, we hear the response of Paul in Philippians 3:8, “More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I
regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”

Today we remember prayerfully – all these things (including us) are passing away. Only what is in Jesus remains.

Questions for Reflection:
1. What title or accomplishment are you most tempted to be proud of in an unhealthy way?
2. If you died tonight, what of you would remain tomorrow?


Lord, I turn away from attempting to be my own source. I confess I am nothing, not even living, without you. Bring me Your Life of the New Creation today. In the resurrected Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Click here to read/listen to a “spoken word” I wrote on Ash Wednesday years ago…

Posted in Spoken Word

New Years

Posted on by Wick


Just as Cinderella escaping the ball,
we all respond to the call of midnight
As next year comes into sight,
we chill the drinks and prepare to chill together
Sheltering from the weather,
whether our burdens are heavy or light as a feather,
finding shelter, both from outside and the storms in our lives,
The ones that beat us down throughout this year.

We’ll gather near the people we enjoy,
employing tactics that make everything seem light.
“The future is bright!” We will say with smiles,
and miles of streamers burst at 12 o’ clock

Then like rocks we’ll collapse into beds
we’ve made the year before.
Waves of time crashing on the shore,
we fall asleep realizing they call out for something more.
Inspirational memes with quotes that seem as thin
as ice in Florida,
As if someone has wiped the scales from your eyes,
you realize:

The skies are beautiful,
but don’t determine if today will be good or not
The plot is not written in stone, not even etched in concrete
And your feet are still incredibly useful for deciding where to go
But you have to do more than know.
Have to do more than show enthusiasm or desire.
You might have to put yourself out on a wire.
The entire year ahead can be influenced by a single decision
A moment where you choose to ignite the change, it feels strange,
Because our world encourages so much feeling,
to see the ceiling and realize your wings are meant for more.
Meant to soar, and explore the unknown heights, beyond childish kites,
Or exercise the powerful control of someone
who chooses not to fly at the moment.
Because you know how needed you are along the ground.
As you have found,
that wings grow stronger when restrained to serve others.
Like sisters and brothers, recognizing we’re not meant for competition,
This mission is not impossible, when our strength is found in numbers,
Coming together with old and newcomers
To this stage called life,
and right in the middle of what you thought was simply going to be –
Can be directly influenced by something you choose to do,
choose to believe, choose to wait,
choose to say no to fate, choose not to berate, choose to hope,
choose to live, choose to forgive, choose life,
choose to fight for what’s right, choose to welcome,
choose to breathe slow, and know –
there are more seeds to sow.

And as you plow each row, preparing what will come,
you’ve grown less numb
To feeling more alive.
Waking those in comas around you, you point out the seeds in their hand,
and together stand in the face of unknown tomorrows,
and breathe.

Tomorrow may be
joy or pain, sunshine or rain,
but both have ways of serving the seed.
Serving what will grow.
As we flow into the new year,
the words you’ve heard start demanding:

What are you planting?