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Spirit

I could name this section Romans 8, because in that chapter Paul makes clear what it means to be “in Christ" (Romans 8:1). We are not condemned for our humanity, for all the ways, in our human nature, we run away from God in Christ. Then Paul explains why. He says “The law of the Spirit which gives life in Christ Jesus has set you free…” The previous chapter, Romans 7, makes it clear to me that alone I am lost. If I depend only on myself, on my mind and my body, my human nature will eventually lead me into darkness, disconnectedness, and death. Chapter eight, however, shifts the mood from disillusionment, to life and freedom. The life of the Spirit in our hearts as Christians means that The Spirit of Christ turns on the lights, that is, turns on the spigot of grace.

“Those who are living by their natural inclinations have their minds on things human nature desires; those who live in the spirit have their minds on spiritual things… while the spirit looks forward to life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6) NJB*

Encouraging his people, Paul says,

“You however, live not by your natural inclinations, but by the spirit since the Spirit of God has made a home in you… and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead has made his home in you, then he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you (Romans 8: 9-11) NJB

I think that a good part of my life I have been so focused on my natural inclinations (toward temptation and sin) because of the mechanicalism of my prayer and my relationship to God in Christ. Now, however, my heart is full. Full of the life of the Spirit. Of course, that does not mean I am no longer a sinner, but now I realize that I cannot live by outward conformity alone. As long as I focus on "the Law," as Paul puts it, I will be subjugated to the law. Instead, I must fill my life with action and contemplation that puts me in a state of grace, in spiritual connection with Christ Alive Here inside of me and beyond to the Universe.

For me, what that means is that I must be in relationship with others, especially those of a similar spiritual inclination, and I must continue to press forward in the project of co-creation with my Creator and my precious Jesus. Some of the ways I do that is by writing poetry, journaling, reading and studying the Bible, going to church and Sunday School, and practicing a life of prayer. I believe I cannot be a whole human when I isolate and withdraw. In spite of the fact that it runs against my introverted nature, I must pursue relationship.

When we draw on our creative selves, we are opening ourselves to glorify God by what he has inspired us to do – even if we aren’t aware of it. In fact, creativity can be a prayer or worship. The creative process is valuable even if the product is not a saleable product. The creative process itself is not a commodity. We should honor our creativity by using it for good, by allowing ourselves to experience the Spirit as we write, paint, or sculpt. The Spirit delights in us when we surrender to the creativity he has inspired. We are made in the image of God. Let us rejoice and be glad in that and in our creative work. – GCC

Poetry

Deeper

I want to become a diver

like the scuba guys in the Thai cave

risking death to save life,

going deeper into convoluted passages

of darkness to pull life from it.

I want to become a heart surgeon

transplanting energizing mitochondria

into babies’ dying hearts

to revive and save damaged cells.

Oh to receive from the gods of creativity

an infusion of fresh energy

into this old body

and renew flagging cells

with a flowering fragrance

as sweet and unique as Plumeria!

May this diving deeper

be as fruitful now as it has been

in the decisive moments

I was able to conquer pride and self

to reach out to others

whose spirits had frowns

whose life energy was down.

I know: thinking, reading and writing

are not quite enough to reach and taste

the fruits of angels.

Like the classic tension

between “faith and works”

“deeper” means a marriage

of information and application

to get transformation.

And so these moments of writing poems

and diving deeper, rising higher

for the creative spirit

are not divorced

from kindness and reaching out

in friendship, intimacy, and love,

from taking time and spending energy

beyond these meditative walls

embracing life where it calls.

I am a diver and a surgeon

a spark striker, a flame keeper

always desiring

to move

deeper, deeper, deeper.

The Spirit in Art
and Artists

I have long believed that the Holy Spirit inspires artists in a special way, for they are able to let their spirits fly in their painting, music, poetry, writing, and sculpture. Of course, it is true that each of us has free will and therefore we can ignore these inspirations or turn them in the wrong direction because of our pride. But look at the art of Michaelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, or listen to a Beethoven symphony composed after he was mostly deaf, or read Shakespeare’s sonnets. There are so many examples of people who were open to the work of the Holy Spirit in their art.

“After Jesus ascended into heaven, and continuing through the entire church age, the Holy Spirit is now the primary manifestation of the presence of the Trinity among us. He is the one who is most prominently present with us now.”

I have searched scripture for verification of my theory and found some passages that help. The first is in Genesis 1:2 “The Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters.” The words themselves are poetic.

What follows are a few passages I have found:

Then Moses said to the Israelites,

“See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel… and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. [And he has given} Oholiab… the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers. - Exodus 35:30-35 excerpts

When we draw on our creative selves, we are opening ourselves to glorify God by what he has inspired us to do – even if we aren’t aware of it. In fact, creativity can be a prayer or even worship. The creative process is valuable even if the product is not a saleable product. The creative process itself is not a commodity. We should honor our creativity by using it for good, by allowing ourselves to experience the Spirit as we write, paint, or sculpt. The Spirit delights in us when we surrender to the creativity he has inspired. We are made in the image of God. Let us rejoice and be glad in that and in our creative work. - GCC

Information about Thai cave divers - rescue - Click here