Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means.
Luke 8:3
Adam was made from the dust
Then Eve was placed in his trust
After that things went downhill
And we are trapped by that still
Concluding Redeeming Animism, Part 6: My De-Liver-Er and all three volumes of The Great Redemption
I am all alone.
Or am I?
I am naked.
Or am I?
I am healed.
Or am I?
When Adam gave each thing its name
Back then he had no word for “shame”
It could not be taught
Til he had been caught
And felt what it feels like to blame
Continued from Part 5.
I thought I was done.
Then I remember.
I still have my Burden.
My Pride.
I’ve been to hell and back
So many times
I have frequent fryer miles
But found no flames
To unmake that ring
There’s only
one move
left.
The place that most ignore
Few approach
Only a handful willingly enter
From which only One returned
Continued from Part 11
All of us turn South, seeking the Voice which interrupted our tableau, here in the Box of Hades:
We gaze toward the far horizon, where Eve’s Multitude had wreaked their vengeance upon Adam.
I am sure it is not his Voice we just heard.
I cannot place it; though it did sound familiar.
Movement stirs at the very limits of our vision.
A pale blue light, in sharp contrast to the dim red glow of our surroundings.
I think I catch a glimpse of one like a Son of Man
Escaping conflicted comfort…
It is natural
To seek comfort
In the arms of Adam
Falling back
On the familiar patterns
And role models of culture
I stare at the Multitude gathered before Eve, here in Hades’ Box at the End of the World.
Waiting to tear us limb from limb.
And worse.
Ernie: Father, forgive me. I didn’t know what I was doing. I am not able to drink this cup.
Adam: Fear not, my son. I did. I AM!
Father and I have been taken prisoner by female guards.
I have no idea what is going on.
I wonder if we were betrayed by Hades, when he opened the Box in his Office.
Then I see Adam.
He no longer looks like a truant Child.
He looks like a Man who has stared Death in the eye.
And Death knelt at his feet and called him Master.
I hope he doesn’t do anything stupid.
Then I realize stupidity is inevitable, whenever Man sees Woman.
So instead I start to pray.
Pray he does the Right Stupid Thing.
As expected, the Office of Hades is locked.
I use the Master Key to open it.
Adam and I enter.
The snappily dressed figure at the desk grins.
He looks surprisingly relaxed.
Maybe he did take that vacation after all.
Where the Hades should I go now?
All the people I care about aren’t here yet.
Jesus warned me I only had a brief time with the Master Key of St. Peter.
How the heck am I supposed to empty out Hell?
Which one person could I reach or succor that could make an outsized difference?
Oh. Duh. I guess there’s a reason I bear his name.
I know how Adam must’ve felt
When Eve ate the Apple.
That’s why he ate.
Because he would rather
Die with her
Than live alone.
Satan head-faked him.
She wouldn’t have died.
Or God could have raised her
If he’d only managed to endure
Until God showed up
Eve was deceived by desire
Adam was deceived by despair
That is what kept them
From reaching for
The Tree of Life
Continued from Part I.
Man and Woman were walking by a range of hills. Suddenly, a gleam of light caught Woman’s eye. She glanced up, and saw a beautiful blue sparkle high up on the side of a cliff. “Oh my,” she said, “how lovely! I wonder what that is?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Man ran over and started climbing. Woman held her breath as his fingers and toes sought out tiny ledges to hold onto, and gasped once when he almost fell. But before she knew it, he had retrieved his prize and was kneeling before her, holding up a nearly transparent rock that glittered with all the colors of the sun.
That night by the fire, while she was admiring her gift, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “You were so brave, today. I bet you aren’t scared to do anything!”
Man stiffened. Without a word, he got up and walked away into the darkness.
Continue reading
Radically Happy 