superbly situated

by robert hershon

you politely ask me not to die and i promise not to
right from the beginning—a relationship based on
good sense and thoughtfulness in little things

i would like to be loved for such simple attainments
as breathing regularly and not falling down too often
or because my eyes are brown or my father left-handed

and to be on the safe side i wouldn’t mind if somehow
i became entangled in your perception of admirable objects
so you might say to yourself: i have recently noticed

how superbly situated the empire state building is
how it looms up suddenly behind cemeteries and rivers
so far away you could touch it—therefore i love you

part of me fears that some moron is already plotting
to tear down the empire state building and replace it
with a block of staten island mother/daughter houses

just as part of me fears that if you love me for my cleanliness
i will grow filthy if you admire my elegant clothes
i’ll start wearing shirts with sailboats on them

but i have decided to become a public beach an opera house
a regularly scheduled flight—something that can’t help being
in the right place at the right time—come take your seat

we’ll raise the curtain fill the house start the engines
fly off into the sunrise, the spire of the empire state
the last sight on the horizon as the earth begins to curve

The lovers know the loveliness

That is not of their bodies only

(Though they be lovely) but is of

Their bodies given up to love.

They find the open-heartedness

Of two desires which both are lonely

Until by dying they have their living,

And gain all they have lost in giving,

Each offering the desired desire.

Beyond what time requires, they are

What they surpass themselves to make;

They give the pleasure that they take.

-Wendell Berry

Fair Exchange

by Berle Chambers

If I share with you my body,
will you share with me your heart?
Will you open up the center
of your secret, tender part?

And let me penetrate you,
with the passion that is mine?
Receive my purest essence?
Admit it as divine?

Would you let my love inside you?
Could you give emotion space?
Will you dare the naked truth,
that only lives in love's embrace?

Can you lower your defenses?
Trust me with an open soul?
Won't you show me all your wounds,
and let my loving make them whole?

Could you once try heart connection?
For it is the only way,
to achieve your life's perfection.
Can you take that chance today?

Do you think you have the courage,
to get out of your head?
Can you risk loss of control,
or the tenderness, you dread.

Can you give up all your masks,
and let me show you your true splendor?
Just your love is all I ask.
Can you let your heart surrender?

The sweetest of communions,
is right here for you to take.
Join me now in holy union,
oh, what Glory we could make!

21 years ago today...

...a super-human woman by the name of Jessalyn Grace graced the earth with her awesome presence. Shuffle decided to honor this day by introducing me to this gem of a song.

Open Up Your Folding Chair

I've got a perfect body,
but sometimes I forget
I've got a perfect body,
'cause my eyelashes catch my sweat
yes they do, they do

infinite beauty

he's the image of the invisible God
first born over the created world
he reigns thrones and kingdoms all on the earth
the heavens and everything invisible

beautiful, infinite God
have your way with me
consume and rapture my heart
make my eyes to see

oh your beauty, your beauty
your beauty i must see

he's enthroned in heaven
surrounded in light
with angels and elders on every side
proclaiming the glory, the consuming fire
the reign of a king who's invincible.

(Hope College Worship Band "Beautiful, Infinite God")

Gray

We are neither |animals| nor |angels|.

animals- fully physical; indulgent in lust
angels- pure spirit; no lustful desires

We live |in the tension| betwixt the two.
If you have not yet read "SexGod" by Rob Bell we would encourage you to do so.


|Black| Gray |White|

Guess what. When it comes to relationships there's a whole lotta gray. We Christians tend to pendulum between two extremes--both hazardous in their own ways. First, as Christians we believe that we cannot simply go around indulging our fleshes' every desire. Fairly elementary (silver ring thing anybody?). The other extreme we tend to swing toward is a quasi-gnosticism (body=bad; spiritual is above and beyond the physical). However, implications of the incarnation, baby (literally) --> the physical world, our physical bodies, made of matter, matter. Oh the irony that we sometimes think matter doesn't matter.

Relationship application: Relationships cannot substantially exist or be built in simply a physical dimension; Nor can the physical be completely ignored if we are to be of any substance. As of now there hasn't yet been discovered some precise line of universally proper physical boundaries for each stage of a relationship. It is much easier if we go on believing there is...somewhere there lies a clear line between black and white, angels and animals...somewhere over the rainbow. Our relationships, at least all of those I've been in or witnessed, do not have precise formulas, spelled out, or clearly defined ways to grow. Rather there's a whole mess of gray--very messy indeed. But that's all part of the adventure. We don't have a map, we've got a guide and general sense of direction, from there we must use our own discernment and discretion.