Someone made the mistake of asking me the general spiritual state of things this week as i was getting an iced mocha for my wife. I like big questions from strangers. So i gave this quick reply:
We are in a high contrast season, of being laid bare as an act of kindness to show us what still needs to grow up spiritually, was my quick reply. But then i had to go on, as this fellow was genuinely curious! It is a rapid and deeper spiritual formation season, where many can accelerate their growth, even going from babies to full adults in new areas of their lives.
What’s inside us produces the expression of what on the outside. So the real work always starts within! In this season, everything which doesn’t bear fruit is being made obvious. We are in a season of being lade bare as people, and peoples. Trees are known by their fruit. And the health of their roots is made obvious by the fruits.
Inner motivations are being made obvious now. And we have to test our own constantly. It is for our certain good, that every area not actually in Life, is exposed.
So being laid bare is an act of kindness, for a deeper formation as we yield. The real fruits of the heart are being made very obvious in our times—this again, is Mercy really, though uncomfortable and at times ugly. Yet, the opportunity is to go further into true spiritual life. And more fully. Deeper formation in every area of our lives is the opportunity. Clean the inner wells to be useful in interface with the outer. Work on lighting the candle well rather than chasing after the dark. And make sure there’s a candle lit in every room of your house.
We see clearly in the outer world that things are being laid bare and made obvious in their sources and motivations. The motivations and state of the heart is being made obvious globally, even by the daily rhetoric—the heart’s revealed by words. What’s lodged there, is what matters, and the type of fruit which comes out, just makes that obvious. But many are chasing the outer world rather than working on the inner one. Develop spiritual fruits, then you can feed others who are eating and or producing poisonous ones. Dislodge our own motes before helping others. Grow up, then serve those who are younger in that area.
This is kindness, so we can grow up in every area. It’s a season of being laid bare in order to bear much more fruit. Rapid growth is the opportunity, but we have to really prioritize growth in every area—maturing the parts which need to grow up into spiritual adulthood. The call is for deeper formation. The method is all things being lade bare or made overt, obvious. Lighting up the whole house is the task of this season.
Some need to stay inside and work on each room, others to be painting the exterior, but what needs renovation is being made obvious, and this is Mercy and Kindness, so that more of us may grow up into the fullness. This then is a time of high contrast, which is vulnerable, but also a grand opportunity for rapid growth and maturation. The wise person is happy to be shown what still needs to grow! We are in a season where we are being shown what needs to die and be reborn first in us, and then in our communities and world. This is Mercy. You could call this a season of deeper spiritual formation, but the method is all things being laid bare.
Our outer lives are created from our inner state. So we start with prioritizing the inner life and its fuller formation, in order to transform the outer. This is what it means that outer expression flows from the heart. Work on the heart first, then the outer takes care of itself.
So for me, for instance, if i want to get to the outer next season, i have to start with the inner formation of my heart, then i will find myself surrounded by what is flowing out from it. Out of the heart flows all outer expressions…
Words (how we communicate) are important this season-how we use them, and where they come from in us-as from the heart words, communication, expression, even art overflow. Our words also reveal the state of our heart—they are like the visible or audible fruits, that the roots of the tree are known by. Words still matter. Maybe even more now, ironically. So, in short, i said to my friend: we are in a season of being lade bare which has in it great opportunities for rapid and deep spiritual growth! Fuller formation!
Anyways, this was my brief response when a friend asked me this week, the state of things in general this season. No one should ever ask me big questions while I’m getting my wife an iced mocha. All the ice melted by the time I got home! Alas.

Joseph the wise manager. Passion versus patience. Thinking of 14 years not just immediate needs. Wise management.

Store up treasures in heaven. Plan wisely while on earth. Make eternal deposits as Joseph did. Wisdom plants towards glory to come.

Thinking about Joseph lots lately. Wise visionary. He saw the times in a dream and invested accordingly while in a position of power on earth.

Also thinking lots about how our season is about clearly seeing which parts are not yet mature. It’s a high contrast season. One of things being laid bare. This is Mercy so we know where to allow a deeper formation of His Life and character.

Someone asked me yesterday, where we are all at…my heart unexpectedly, but quickly replied….deep times, require long answers! Do you have a longer moment?! Ok, then…sometimes it’s good to post a full response.

A season, of Being, and ours, laid bare. (lay bare–third-person singular simple present lays bare, present participle laying bare, simple past and past participle laid bare) To make bare; strip. And laid those proud roofs bare to summer’s rain. –Byron. (figuratively) To expose to view, reveal, uncover…) That’s the type of season we are all in. Being made more obvious or overt in our growth, is another useful definition of this phrase!

People should never ask me deep questions when i’m just picking up an iced mocha for my wife, but since this fellow did….

So, this was my very brief answer when someone asked me this week what type of season things are in collectively, I had to answer: One of being laid bare, I said. People, cities and nations, each of us..we are seeing what parts are actually “in The Light”, “in Him”, and which parts need to mature, or come home, catch up and mature, as Henri Nouwen put it. “God is trying to bring us all the way home! Each part of us!” To eclipse us in knowing, as one monk put it!

Each of us has to ask, which part is not whole yet in my life. And get that part into The Light of growth and maturation.

Trees and people, cities and nations, are known by their fruit. What is not fruitful in us, is being uprooted and exposed for its certain growth, was my first response to this friend. It is good to know what is not mature or in growth in yourself, that’s Mercy, then you can tend and steward it, into the present!

It is mercy to reveal which parts of us are actually in and growing in Light and which parts are in flight from Reality; what’s home, maturing growing in us, and which parts still need to grow and be guided towards maturity. So things are in high contrast lately, being made obvious in their levels of maturity. So we can catch up with ourselves “in Him.”

This is kind, so we will be all the way “home” when greater storms, which are coming, come. A tree is known by its fruit. What in you is actually rooted and grounded in Love, as the good book puts it. The fruits planted at night, are now exposed by a searing Light. It is good to know which parts are truly rooted and which are still trying to find good soil.

This is a high contrast season, when what has been done in secret is brought into the light and interpreted. We are in a being laid bare season on earth. And that is Mercy. Was my quick response. It’s a great opportunity to renovate the whole heart-to catch up on growth, to come entirely or more fully home. Complacency is impossible in times like ours.

High contrast lighting reveals the actual present contours, so we can work on the overall composition of our lives! It is good to know what is mature and immature in ourselves and things around us. Love is the lens for interpreting what is what. Love is discernment, even of ourselves.

This is a season of potential rapid growth and maturation in every area of life, as we yield expectantly in Hope. And get usefully exposed in areas of weakness…which is compost for potential growth!

And then my friend had to go, so I stopped rambling about where we are now. But then, he snuck away to hear the end…

Lastly I said, things are being laid bare, made apparent or obvious in every area of life, which really is a gift of Grace, so we can grow and catch up with ourselves in every area! Individually and collectively. It is a high contrast black and white time, so we can see and choose well. And form well.

I asked my friend, as I ask myself daily: What needs growth now in yourself, what is immature in you? What needs to undergo transformation in each room of your life? What needs to “meet Jesus in your dreams?” What parts need to come into the present of His Presence in your life?

For, we are in a time of opportunity to transform, a potential “yes moment” to growth and Life, in every area un-grown or immature-individually and collectively. Things, people and people groups are being grown up, being shown for what they are and will be. Matured and exposed. And the process is exposure or what may feel like over exposure at times. These are necessarily vulnerable times. It’s for our certain good to be exposed.

We are in high contrast times of potential transformation. And it’s a great gift to live in “such a time as this.” Not boring at least! And sheering lays bare character. It’s kind to be pruned towards our potential Glory. And that’s where the story is at now. It’s an editing moment, when the all the lights go up and expose the inner content of things. So we know, and can choose to grow.

We are, at the very least, in a time of character formation individually and collectively. Everything in us, must grow up, be caught up, or die. Our trees will be known by our fruits. And we are those who are meant to lean into Sky and Truth. The roots, or our inner work is where to start, and do our part of and in yielded transformation. To trust into becoming, and keep leaning into what is Love.

When someone asks you a question, you need to answer it from the heart, thoroughly. This was part of mine, as I picked up an iced mocha for my wife yesterday! Each of us give our own partial answers, this was mine.

A season, of Being, laid bare. Made overt and obvious for the purpose of rapid growth, if we are willing…(lay bare–third-person singular simple present lays bare, present participle laying bare, simple past and past participle laid bare) To make bare; strip. And laid those proud roofs bare to summer’s rain. –Byron. (figuratively) To expose to view, reveal, uncover…) That’s the type of season we are all in. Being made more obvious or overt in our growth, is another useful definition of this phrase!

People should never ask me deep questions when i’m just picking up an iced mocha for my wife, but since this fellow did….

My very brief answer when someone asked me this week what type of season things are in collectively, I had to answer: One of being laid bare, I said. People, cities and nations..we are seeing what parts are “in The Light” and which parts need to mature, or come home, as Henri Nouwen put it. “God is trying to bring us all the way home!”

Trees and people, cities and nations, are known by their fruit. What is not fruitful in us, is being uprooted and exposed for its certain growth, was my first response to this friend. It is good to know what is not mature or in growth in yourself, that’s Mercy, then you can tend and steward it!

It is mercy to reveal which parts of us are actually in and growing in Light and which parts are in flight from Reality; what’s home, maturing growing in us, and which parts still need to grow and be guided towards maturity. So things are in high contrast lately, being made obvious in their levels of maturity. So we can catch up with ourselves “in Him.”

This is kind, so we will be all the way “home” when greater storms, which are coming, come. A tree is known by its fruit. What in you is actually rooted and grounded in Love, as the good book puts it. The fruits planted at night, are now exposed by a searing Light. It is good to know which parts are truly rooted and which are still trying to find good soil.

This is a high contrast season, when what has been done in secret is brought into the light and interpreted. We are in a being laid bare season on earth. And that is Mercy. Was my quick response. It’s a great opportunity to renovate the whole heart-to catch up on growth, to come entirely or more fully home. Complacency is impossible in times like ours.

High contrast lighting reveals the actual present contours, so we can work on the overall composition of our lives! It is good to know what is mature and immature in ourselves and things around us. Love is the lens for interpreting what is what. Love is discernment, even of ourselves.

This is a season of potential rapid growth and maturation in every area of life, as we yield expectantly in Hope. And get usefully exposed in areas of weakness…which is compost for potential growth!

And then my friend had to go, so I stopped rambling about where we are now. But then, he snuck away to hear the end.

Lastly I said, Things are being laid bare, made apparent or obvious in every area of life, which really is a gift of Grace, so we can grow and catch up with ourselves in every area! Individually and collectively.

I asked my friend, as I ask myself daily: What needs growth now in yourself, what is immature in you? What needs to undergo transformation in each room of life?

For, we are in a time of opportunity to transform, a potential yes moment to growth and Life, in every area un-grown or immature-individually and collectively. Things, people and people groups are being grown up, being shown for what they are and will be. Matured and exposed. And the process is exposure or what may feel like over exposure at times. These are necessarily vulnerable times. It’s for our certain good to be exposed.

We are in high contrast times of potential transformation. And it’s a great gift to live in “such a time as this.” Not boring at least! And sheering lays bare character. It’s kind to be pruned towards our potential Glory. And that’s where the story is at now. It’s an editing moment, when the all the lights go up and expose the inner content of things. So we know, and can choose to grow.

We are, at the very least, in a time of character formation individually and collectively. Everything in us, must grow up or die. Our trees will be known by our fruits. And we are those who are meant to lean into Sky and Truth. The root or inner work is where to start, and do our part of yielded transformation.

When someone asks you a question, you need to answer it from the heart, thoroughly. This was part of mine, as I picked up an iced mocha for my wife yesterday!

Manchester after Dark:

My dream last night, was about Manchester, UK at night. Manchester after dark. After this recent tragedy, my heart’s been with her, even while asleep, it seems. It’s amazing still to me that we can pray in our dreams, or maybe through them.

I was just there in my dream, with the people of that city-being with. And I am, after all the cameras and lights of day go away, just as I was after 911. We are family, and stay connected in prayer, and heart sight. Thinking of you all at night friends. Know that the night watchmen stay awake after the cameras fade, which they do so quickly these days.

With so many traumas spotlighted daily, and many cameras pointing at times at the wrong things, it’s important to see through the lens of Love, behind the scenes, and choose where your heart and words and sight should lean. Which traumas are ours to tend, when we see so many daily. To govern the imagination of our hearts, and so our words, is the essential spiritual discipline of our times! Maybe our hearts know while we dream.

Mine was directed there this week, and again last night in my dreams. To watch from and in the night. A night watch dream. That’s what the dream seemed to be about. When the lights fade, and cameras disappear, the heart glows in its own particular sorrows. Know that we are near, and sitting with you.

So i visited then last night, in the dark, in sleep, just to be with you strong hearted darling, tenacious creative city, overcoming city, during this hard time. In your parks i sat watching the candles glow, and tears flow. With you all this day and night friends, as I know so many are. We see and are with you friends, despite the times. The heart fortunately has a longer memory than the news.

Let morning last, for once!

Lord let the morning last forever,
so we can finish something clever.
I’m always running out of
morning time. Where we get to just be.
Let my time alone with Thee last all day.
Let the morning last forever for once
so i can see
something fully, in all its cadenced nuanced light story; like
that bear shaped tree on that hill right there, already leaning
over that sea into her glory,
which i tried to study all night, the story of just one hilltop.
We know the bear tree was left by natives here, as a sign
for someone to see. But it’s only visible in morning light.
And I need time to interpret it in Love.
The rest of the day, the military compound overshadows it
as it does us all somehow now. I want to be synced up with your song instead!
For God you are always singing!
God, you like to just see with me and listen, that’s how we are together, you and me,
We know most of the story already, You being so clever.
So let the morning light not run out today, switch some eternal lever.
I’m tired of running around begin clever, gathering flecks of the day, partial expressions
into my mere satchels of sight, which can barely hold marbles,
much less Your Light.
Just let me dwell in Your morning light for a while, a little longer…
until you see me, whole altogether already, stronger
as i know i also must be to Thee by morning light.
Until this all happens, Lord and old friend,
don’t let the morning light run out on me again!
Help me be a bear like this tree, leaning only into Thee.

God likes just to see with me.
//
After a moment of deep communion yesterday…wrote this on a napkin:
Note to self: My Jewish, Christian Celtic and Native American streams run together here in and from Him. This is my estuary! My source of words. Here is Christ. Christ is my Estuary. This is where I see from forever already.
//
Dreams, typewriters, and seeing things past their present, is what interest me most here and now.
//
Everything down here needs to be seen through a wide angled lens of Love.
//
God is The Story, it’s an autobiography, and we are the characters in it. Lord, help Him edit!
//
I notice when here, my Jewish, Christian Celtic and Native American streams all start to glisten, as I listen in well, in Love.

I notice out here my Jewish, Christian Celtic and Native American streams glisten more overtly, in listening. This one is from the more native stream (Cherokee in my case), on observing a sign some of my distant relatives left on a nearby hill. Enjoy a little poetic meditation friends! I did today with Him, thinking again of the whole human family, in light of current events.

So, on an animal, symbol, cultural deposits, and history related topic. The native Americans here left a bear-shaped tree on top the hill across from me, as a reminder for those who see, of all that was and will be. So, I turned to poetry to look backwards and forwards today…

(Viewing a particular “California” bear)

Bear Tree
On the tip of that hill there
a bear-shaped tree leans through this bay window all morning into glory.
I saw it my first time here; as, it seemed to be in longing to be seen, so
I finally looked into it. It’s a native american sign left
for us who would come later.
So, they left a bushy sea bear tree, if not their names, at least
leaning into winds unseen, whispering towards the waters of the sea.
Today we
took a picture of it for some reason, maybe just
to re-member
what was and will be.
Or to make it more permanent for ourselves, or
To practice bearing and being in the long story well, seeing monuments in wind…
Or just to gaze at bear tree clearly through a foggy morning window, dearly. Regardless,
They knew someone would see it eventually, with fog horn warnings,
in perceptual thanks, re-reading the signs before us, so we too may lean forwards again, from a nearby hilltop home…to see
the bear tree they hid in plain sight alone
atop that hill there still sheerly leaning into wind’s recall.
This bear isn’t laughing. She’s waiting stoically to be seen.

Taking internal snap shots all the time, this time at a particular corner cafe which is also everywhere…

I take pictures in my head all the time. I’ll see an elderly couple eating salad on a terrace on a corner cafe, by a park filled with children, and I’ll see their moment a hundred times as universal. Often i just have to stop and photo it, but usually i just do it my head. Just noticing things with Him.
The woman who no longer feels beautiful letting down her hair, as she used to when young. Letting her know she is still beautiful, maybe in my eyes even more so, as she is relaxed now in her own being. Dark eyes, dark hair, ancient peru i think somewhere in her background. Then the Jewish lady beside her, perhaps some czech heritage, eats no nonsense and stares out the window across the park towards her dog which someone is playing with so she can eat in Peace. The daughter with her father. The two don’t talk much, but have been across this table for many years, at the end he hugs her. She follows him out, when he is finished. The little gestures tell at least a 30 year story. The tall fellow, dutch i think; certainly northern european vibe, feels a little awkward in his body, but is really strong and striking and interested in the beautiful Jewish woman who sits by herself and owns at least two businesses in the neighborhood, judging from her stack of papers and eyes. And I and my gazing self with my funny yellow shoes and clown socks, talk to the old and young alike, and I am as welcomed into today’s drama at this particular corner cafe, as anyone.

(Creature callings…towards a spiritual ecology…from a dream i had last night!)

Animal dreams: The whole world is a dust bowl now!

I’ve been dreaming lots about the creatures lately. I’ve thought lots about a spiritual ecology for years, as I was shown there were three neglected areas of Christ Lordship in His church: sight (imagination), soil (our relationship to the earth), and skin (our proper relationship to our physical bodies). I’ve seen the gaps in all three areas, especially within Christianity, as it’s been lived out. And I’ve felt Christ’s Heart to enter more deeply into each of these three areas! So this dream was welcomed! It was about how the animals are confused now.

Animal dreams! After seeing a Marin county beaching of the largest types of whales in the world this week during the day, this one evidently hit by a cargo ship, i had this dream at night…

So, here’s another thing my dreams were talking about last night. Nothing I hadn’t heard before, as someone connected to the animals my whole life, but a good reminder:

Care for animals is close to the heart of God. Not everyone is called primarily to creatures, but God is always there with them. Concerned and hovering over and with them. In my dream, there was a sheer presence and atmosphere of care around the many displaced and confused animals in the world. It was tangible Presence.

In my dream, the animals were confused by our chaotic global behavior. Whales and sharks were in the wrong places. Horses running through city streets. Turtles on rooftops. The dream was surreal in its displacements. The geometry of the animal kingdom was eschewed by our poor governing. They were living signs of our rebellion against the actual nature of Reality. Our authority trickled down over them into a shattered expression.

After the flood, my dream reminded me, God also made a covenant with the earth itself. He has direct relationship with it.

Especially in our times of so much human displacement. He leans into what is uncovered and weak. Those with a calling to the creatures are near to God.

In my dream, I saw many animals wandering untended during all these global crisis. Wandering in bombed city alleyways, and sleeping in abandoned trucks along our borders. Some were ravenous for lack of food, others just confused by lack of order. My dream said that need some Noah’s now to haven the creatures in love and order, and kindness. Good dream reminder! I’ve always wanted to be a Noah, which is probably why we have way too many rescued animals, and I walk around talking to birds often. Nice to be reminded that God does too.

One character in the dream, a hawk tender, said to me: “It’s not just to feel guilt, and act from that motivation, rather it is to find and see The Face of God in the creation. We don’t merge with them, we merge with God. And when we do our motivation is not guilt, but to love what He Loves.” Great quote. I wrote it down even in the dream! Keeps us from earth worship.

There’s a poignant photo taken by Dorothea Lange of a white horse running through the dust bowl. It captured what happens when humans are displaced and can’t tend the creatures. My dream was like that but the situation was amplified to the whole planet. Time for some Noah’s in the midst! Nice dream reminder! “Care for the weak, God is always there,” as one monk put it. Creatures included. For, the whole world is a dust bowl now!

Stewarding the animals in the midst of our chaos is a calling now my dream said to me last night. Noah and St Francis were whispering through this dream. Good reminder! A single sparrow is never forgotten. Not to mention a hawk or horse, fox or tortoise, or even us.