“If you hold a newborn in your arms,
All at once you will understand
The crook of your elbow
And the cup of your palm
As never before—
Ordinary curves of the body
Transformed into a resting space.
You were designed for love.”
— Excerpt from “Hold” by Rev. Sarah Are
From the Again & Again poetry collection by @sanctifiedart
“As crucifixion nears, Jesus gives his remaining disciples a commandment related to the time they’ve spent together. They’re to love one another as Jesus has loved them… How did Jesus love them? They’ll have to draw from their encounters. The acts of love and healing, the teaching, the signs and wonders—all of it needs to…
“Change, even when welcomed, means death. I once had the unenviable task of pastoring a church through dissolution. We realized that change would happen either with us or to us. We could die to some things so that we could live to others, or we could hold onto what is and die with it. Only…
“Today I will listenLouder than I speak,And look for the tablesThat Jesus is flipping.For our God carvedWords into stone.Our God led the peopleIn a pillar of smoke.Our God was presentIn the still, small voice,In the middle of the storm,And where people rejoice.And if God was showing them the way,Then I am confident,God is here today—Dropping…
“As I cut tiny stencils of prayer poses, I abstracted them to depict the shrouded minuteness of our being in God’s presence. As we became a beautiful and intricate pattern of prayer and praise, I began to see other images in the patterns—masks, faces, flowers—as though all states of being are present in that constancy…
The word “selah” is used 74 times in scripture. The meaning is unclear, but many believe it indicates a pause. Where or how do you need to pause in your life? | @sanctifiedart
“God of light, if I am walking, I want to walk toward the dawn. I want to walk into the sun. I want to walk closer to you. There are many long shadows that can distract and deter. Help guide my feet. Be my light. Gratefully I pray. Amen.”—Prayer by Rev. Sarah Are | @sanctifiedart
