The earth is stained with an unyielding wildness.
Older believers know this. So we take childhood verses
or quotations from dead mystics and wrap them over
pastoral scenes of wildflowers along the highway.
We do this all the while shuddering deep inside because
despite our best efforts to cast a more Christ-like God,
efforts I applaud, there remains the God-like Christ
who may without consulting us give permission for us
to be sifted like wheat or live despised and rejected of men.
This is the chill older believers know, and cannot shake.
[…] John Blase wrecks it this morning with his poem, “The earth is stained with an unyielding wildness.” This one broke something […]
Chills… your words splinter the religious “name it and claim it” beliefs. I have lived in the Home for the Bewildered about the” sheer cliff” living that GOD has partaken of with me. As I grow older I see the truth. The walking on water, the shredding of feet that walked the thorny path is leading us beautifully to heavens arms. We must die to self for God to make known.
Thank you so much!
Just beautiful. And . Yes.
Thanks, Abby.
Yes…O yes. It aches, but it is a sweet ache.
Thank you, Cheryl. Yes…
I don’t feel those ‘sweet aches’ until 10 years later. Only then can I be grateful-–and sometimes even then begrudgingly so.
They take time, don’t they, Paula? Sometimes, a long time.
Wow.
Thank you, Annie.
This is at least partly why I find myself keeping a distance between God and me – I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop (I realize how flawed this thinking is because shoes will drop regardless of whether I’m on speaking terms with God, yet it persists). Name it/claim it Christianity seems to be uniquely 21st century American Thing, undergirded by a willful blindness to the unfortunate fates of what may be a majority of Christians since AD 33. I find this particularly surprising given our ready access to global news. I’m guessing Christians in the Middle East, China, North Korea, to name a few, would be baffled by this mindset – probably insulted. Your words are an important reminder.
Thanks, Leah. Yes, this exists in the name it/claim it mentality. I’ve also found it exists in some of the progressive thought out there, a drive to get rid of that old opinionated, sometimes angry God of the OT.
As an ‘older’ believer (circa 70’s) I will amen your words, sir. I will also add, perhaps sheepishly, that ‘heresy’ wouldn’t be too strong a word for those early teachings (or lack thereof.) It seems to me the Scriptures about the Apostles’ rejections, beatings, beheadings….those passages recording the laments of those who loved God, were conveniently left out of my early formative years.
My experience has proven otherwise–the faith walk is a long and winding and challenging road with a goal to make me more like Jesus–surrendered and fully God’s, regardless of the circumstances.
I hear you, Jody. A long obedience, isn’t it?
Yes to this hard truth. Perhaps if we stop trying to pit Christ/God against one another, and learned to embrace the whole enchilada in a more thoroughly integrated way, we would be better able to embrace the the mystery of it all?
I agree, Diana. Thanks for your comment.
Yes, and one’s stain is another’s beauty mark.
Lovely
Very, very true.
John,i read “Fear of the Lord” in your words, and the words of many who commented.I plan to keep this for further review.God bless you and yours.
John,One final thought,if I may;upon further reflection;I believe someday you very well might be refered to ( respectfully) as “John Blase,the dead mystic.”
Am in awe of the depth of the responses,God bless them all
Thanks, Mike. “The dead mystic” – that made me chuckle a little. I hope you and yours are well.
[…] you aren’t reading John Blase’s poetry, why not? This week’s “The Earth is Stained With an Unyielding Wildness” is a beautiful piece. Perhaps one of my favorite Blase […]
Your words …. they make me squirm in humility because I read those verses and quotations from dead mystics you mention, and wonder why I don’t feel uplifted.The truth is, the God-like Christ has sifted me hard, albeit not mercilessly, so trite sayings don’t do it for me anymore. His Words still pierce, still tear me up, still break me open with awe. But sifting and scorn and rejection have purified my view of Him until all I see is One who loves me enough to get rid of the dross. Yes, it is chilly out here for this older believer, chill like a glacial wind nipping off the unnecessary to make me clean. I’m far enough along not to dread it like I used to.