Have you ever discovered something no one else seemed to have found?  A book … a song … a place … a poem … a picture …  Something hidden from sight – something not covered in celeb endorsements stickered all over it.  Something that “is” – rather than something someone else says “you must”.

I have.

And each time I stumble across that “is” moment – that is a moment that is so precious.  That moment becomes mine and no one else’s.  It becomes me and I it.  No one else made me own it.  No one else made me reject it.  No one else told me I should or should not.  I wasn’t buying in to a marketing campaign.  I discovered this “is” and this is is mine.

“Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honour, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.” Mark 6:1-6

I love the “sowing seeds” parable.  It allows me “is” moments time after time.  It allows me to germinate and nurture, to tend and cherish, to see and feel, to watch and learn, to finally see the fruit of my creating the conditions for that growth in me.  For allowing that “is” moment of discovery.

They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offence at him.

Celeb endorsements come unstuck.  I cannot remember the number of times I got sucked into the hype.  Found the reality was fleeting – was not the expectation – had no “is” I could own. And I rejected the thing, the moment, the reason, the journey.

And they took offence at him.

I think the bible is like that a lot of the time … The Word Of God.  Inspired By God.  Divine. Death Loses and God Wins.  Sin Is Defeated.  You Have The Prize of Eternal Life.  All You Have To Do Is …

complete the transaction

I reject the celeb endorsed bible.  The one that is Holy and Sacred.  The one that  comes with “This is the word of the Lord, thanks be to God” corporate anthem.

And then found this scruffy page fluttering towards me.

All folded and unfolded and marked and dirty and lacking anything celeb at all.  A fragment of a chapter of a book that was a restless wanderer’s story.  One like me.  Incomplete.  Undressed.  Spontaneous.  Warts and all.

I found a bible without all the fancy dressing and ritual.  A story that has so many “is” moments I cannot help but join the journey.  A journey others have made.  A journey without one stepping stone, one route, one destination.  A journey just like mine.  A journey without transaction.  A journey without signposts.  A journey that will happen with or without my bible.  A journey that is not all about the bible but about living and loving and sharing and caring and being and becoming.

I was invited to see a show endorsed by celeb – and found instead a scruffy page of a story few others seem to want to read.

Taking offence is easy.  When I am transacting a transaction and my return is not delivered as I expect I take offence.  And then I reject.

I found a bible without all the fancy dressing and ritual.  A story that has so many “is” moments I cannot help but join the journey.

How about you?

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