"Skip The Ethnocentric Arrogance" (Gen.1:1-5) [Reflections On Book Powerlines by Leona Frances Choy - Chapter 7 , Jonathan Goforth #24/25]
It fascinates me how our names
Impact our lives, though not the same
As cultures in the days of yore
Or different cultures lived next door.Take “Goforth”, into mission zeal;
Or “Stu-art”, noting art’s appeal;
Then “Catch-em; Croak-em” dad spoke of –
Some inner need to name resolve?That goes for Baptist, UCC,
The Prebies, Anglos, staunch RC’s;
Transfixed on names of faith lived out
By fathers, mothers, raises doubt –That we can move beyond the “NOME”
Of nomenclature, parents’ home;
Or if we’ll ever come to see
The challenges today that be.So, all cleaned up, where do we go?
When “saved”; “baptized”; above “below”
Of Kingdom layer (or kite) what e’er;
What challenges can now we dare –To take up, fashion ways and means
For life today? For now it seems
Life has moved on from yesterday-year,
And future here is less than clear.It seems to me the clarity
We miss, because we cannot see,
Arises for the future’s ours,
A place to use creative powers –God has designed reflecting Him,
Today’s the day we can begin
To move ahead, re-fashion life
On Kingdom-layer above the strife.Surrendered lives with Spirit-guide,
And past laid down where we reside;
We can from here feel freshening breeze –
The challenge of “tomorrow” seize.We raise our kids, they’ll have their turn
To build a life – from which will burn
The dross, as from our patchy lives,
For only smelted gold survives.Lord, help us live our names today –
“Stu-art” for me (with words I play);
Encourage us to do the same –
Encourage folks to live their names.Not in the sense of “same old way”
But in some fashion for today;
And when that name no longer works,
Help us find sense where Spirit lurks –Above chaotic seas of dark;
“Let there be light” – creation’s start,
So that as we write tales in light,
Your Spirit’s work be seen aright.Thanks Lord for this.
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