Radically Happy

MIC Check

Today’s Most Important Challenge is…

• Teaching Empathy
• By Modeling it
• By Receiving it
• In Christ

Immanuel Approach Memo

Continued from 3/21 IAM: Crowned

I am… at the feet of Jesus
Laying the stolen crown at His feet

I look up to Jesus.

He places the crown in a wooden bucket
The holy water from His side
Melts the crown like acid
Aqua Regia

He picks up the bucket
He paces out a diamond
About ten yards on a side
On the North is the Ruby
On the West is the Sapphire
On the East is the Emerald

When He gets to the South

Jesus looks for me.

Oh no

He smiles
Grimly
Joyfully
Hungrily?

He says
“Care to join me for a drink?”

I sigh
And take my place

He shakes His head
“Me first”

Jesus lays himself down.

In the center of the diamond
Head to the North
Feet to the South
Arms stretched out
As far as the East is from the West

I start shaking
“Lord, this acid can destroy kings”

He winks
“Of course.
It is my Blood.”

With trembling hands

I pour for Jesus.

The golden solution
Fills His mouth
Trickling down His beard

Jesus…. sinks
As if the weight of the world
Was pressing upon Him
As if drinking the gold
Multiplied His mass

I look in the bucket.

There is one golden drop left
At the very bottom

I shudder
But take my place
Lying in my corner
Like a shallow imitation of Jesus

My head
Somehow
Almost touching His feet

Perhaps He
Is spreading out
As His mass increased

I tip the bucket.

The last drop falls in my mouth
It is a bitter as gall on my lips
But sweet as honey in my stomach

I… collapse
Like a black hole
My self
Crushing my self

I become
A black pearl
Of great mass
And great perspective

Because now I can see
In all directions
Equally

Because my self
Has been crushed

Mostly
I see the feet of Jesus
And that is enough
For all eternity

I wait.

I could wait here forever
But sooner than I expect
Something happens

It begins to rain…

To be continued

Reflection

I feel…

• Small
• Potent
• Humbled
• Concentrated
• Honored
• Trued

Scripture

So this is what the Lord GOD says: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.

Isaiah 28:16