Jesus and John

Jesus and John
by Lisa Gungor

Johnny was raised with a steeple over his head.
Lived in the suburbs and memorized scripture at night before bed.
He won a prize.
Preachers and teachers would tell him where all sinners go.
Prayed for revival but showed him a fancy lit carnival show.
Why is it a lie?
Why is it a lie?

John saw the lies.
And he saw the steeples.
And saw all the people get it wrong.

Went off to college and came home with knowledge to spare
Of crusades and slave-trades and all of the blood that was spared in God's name.
And all of the lies.
But John couldn't buy it, he just couldn't buy it again.
Church was too small, so he just threw it all up to chaos and chance.
And all of the lies.
All of the lies.

John saw the lies.
And he saw the steeples.
And saw all the people get it wrong.

Jesus sees John.
And Jesus sees steeples.
He sees all his people get it wrong.

Trust Jesus John.
Trust Jesus people.
For Jesus will come and save us all.

To Die Empty 2

Consider this blog post a follow-up to the previous post "To Die Empty."

Got this text tonight from Shannon Brooke:

"I've been thinking about dying empty today. Then I started to see it in a different light: living empty. The best way to die empty must be to also live that way" (Brooke, 2010).

To Die Empty

Aluminum foil our plates, fingers our utensils, and fire-roasted meat, potatoes, carrots and onions. Lawn chairs, tree stumps, and logs pulled close to the crackling warmth of a campfire. Shadows cast from the flames dancing against the thick woods coiling all around. Bright stars and moon sneaking through gaps in the autumn leaves. Homework left at school, cellphones without service, and the fast pace of civilized life put on hold. Seventeen grad and undergrad college students, men and nature coming together for fellowship.

Life goals, one by one, given words and thrown into the space between us brothers where flames lick and whip and point upwards:

"to graduate"
"to work with youth"
"to run a marathon"
"to be a good husband"
"to get into a good Grad school"
"to run a godly youth ministry"
"to complete a triathlon"
"to be a good father"
"to travel the world"
"to be a foster parent"
"to hike the Appalachian Trail"
"to provide for my family"
...
"to die empty"

All possessions, all ambitions, all emotions--everything poured out.

Everyone quiet, reflective, staring into a pit of now only ashes. And a silence occupying the space previously filled with words and words and so many words.

"to die empty"