A poem from God heard on 9-11-2001

This poem was written on that awful day 10 years ago. I knew nothing of who was guilty. I heard this question from God. I now know much more about the danger of Islam. We face an economic abyss that could make the “Great Depression” of the 30's look like a minor bump. So this question from God seems even more timely. “Will you trust Me...?” Will we “find joy in midst of suffering.”?

Being a disciple isn't easy. Never has been. Never will. This strange gift. God inviting us to join Him in the fellowship of His suffering. Can you “drink My cup”. Knowing we can trust Him. Knowing He loves us, yet He offers this most strange gift. Why do you offer someone you love the gift of suffering? Yet this is exactly what Jesus did for us. He not only died for us, but more amazingly, He suffered with us.

Today's question. What does it mean to be a disciple?
The rest is exactly as it was written on that dark day 10 years ago. A question from God. A poem from God. I just take dictation.

Suffering, God’s Gift

I offer gift to you
suffering, pain & woe.
All stronger than you
can stand or endure.
Will you trust Me
when I offer this gift?
Will you still follow
as you bear your cross.

Cross too heavy
to carry on your own.
Will you join martyrs
ready to die for Me?
In midst of senseless death.
Death of innocents
death unexplained
pain to no purpose.

Will you seek My purpose?
Will you follow Me?
Will you drink My cup
offered James & John?
Will you find joy
in midst of suffering?
Feel My love
in midst of tears?

© Presbypoet, 1: 15 PM, September 11, 2001, still in shock at unknown, awful, pain and loss.
Loss that served no good purpose, yet death planned by unknown killers. Lord, help us see you in this pain.
Help us see you in such awful death.
Help us say, forgive them, they know not what they do.

Dangerous Certainty

Dangerous Certainty,.
We like certainty. I want to be certain of the truth. This seems a good thing:
“Is this who I'm to marry? I want certainty.”
“Is this the best investment for retirement? I want certainty.”
“Is this the right job? I want certainty.”
“Is this the right religion? I want certainty.”
“Is this the best place to put solar lights for my path? I must be certain.”
The list goes on, and on, as we seek certainty.

Certainty seems essential. When we decide, we want to be right.
But, certainty has a downside, expressed by the paradox:
The more certain I am, the harder it is to find the truth.

When I am certain of a political party, I can be blind to it's faults. Make excuses when it makes a mistake. Ignore a mistake, because my enemies made the accusation.

To hear God, and yet be both certain and uncertain, at the same time, is a hard paradox of being a disciple. Like a bad radio trying to pick up a station just at the outer limits of reception. What did He say? Did I hear correctly? How to confirm? A life of bewildered certainty.

Thus, certainty is both goal and temptation. Our goal to hear God, yet also verify. To know it's God we hear. Like that special forces soldier in enemy territory, ready to throw away assumptions. Always alert. Ready to discard certainties.