We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened
—Luke 24:21
Every fact that the disciples stated was right, but the conclusions they drew from those facts were wrong. Anything that has even a hint of dejection spiritually is always wrong. If I am depressed or burdened, I am to blame, not God or anyone else. Dejection stems from one of two sources—I have either satisfied a lust or I have not had it satisfied. In either case, dejection is the result. Lust means "I must have it at once." Spiritual lust causes me to demand an answer from God, instead of seeking God Himself who gives the answer. What have I been hoping or trusting God would do? Is today "the third day" and He has still not done what I expected? Am I therefore justified in being dejected and in blaming God? Whenever we insist that God should give us an answer to prayer we are off track. The purpose of prayer is that we get ahold of God, not of the answer. It is impossible to be well physically and to be dejected, because dejection is a sign of sickness. This is also true spiritually. Dejection spiritually is wrong, and we are always to blame for it.
We look for visions from heaven and for earth-shaking events to see God’s power. Even the fact that we are dejected is proof that we do this. Yet we never realize that all the time God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around us. If we will only obey, and do the task that He has placed closest to us, we will see Him. One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn that it is in the everyday things of life that we realize the magnificent deity of Jesus Christ.
from _My Utmost For His Highest_
hi mike,
i don't know you, but was just doing a google search on one of denise levertov's poems,
'I learned that her name was Proverb.' i've been trying to find out what the title is in reference to....found out it's from a dream that thomas merton had that's described in one of his letters to boris pasternak, so i have to go buy the book that contains their correspondence...the poem is of particular interest to me as i'm working on a commission to write a piece for a choral group- and the text i chose to set is
"Proverb."
anyway, the title of the poem led me to your site, and i figured that if i posted a reply to your levertov quoting, it might take awhile for you to see my post...so i'm deliberately posting in the wrong place.
i read through some of your musings, and find it refreshing to see someone who is christian and real about their struggles (though i don't know that i'd choose to post my struggles for the world to see. i do have my own website, but for professional reasons i don't think i could ever do a blog like you're doing).
i'd welcome any feedback about the poem. i feel rather humbled to even be allowed to work with this text. blessings to you.
Posted by: deanna at February 7, 2004 1:34 PM