2023-12-29 A Meditation on Elusive Cipher

“12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.” (1 Pet 1:12 ESV)

The elusive cipher. The man or woman making their creed, signing on the dotted line. For it is elusive the cipher of Man’s forgiveness; we don’t always see that we want this to be our fighting call. Forgiveness: when rightly administered, it is our cozy and our proud sanctuary. When rightly told, it is indeed that elusive cipher that marks the dialog or soliloquy as Legit, as Inspired, as Originating Outside of Ourselves.

Strange, indeed, that there would be bounce and pluck in a more solemn discussion of Man dying on a lonesome Tree. That we would discern somehow our own story within that Man’s story. That our composure, our personality, our bravery, and our testimony, would circle and orbit around Strange Allotments, Concessions, Gifted New Nature: we, the gifted and repaired, telling of no thing today spare our telling of God’s Grace.

For the history books of our lives, kicking and screaming, we realize to be pock-marked and flawed. Would that we were put to life’s winnowing fork, life’s proud self-composed march, life’s disdain and forlorn attitude towards what is sinful. When we are thus put to honesty, we are immediately put to prayer. We flail and agitate, unaware that so much and more is true of our brethren and sistren, our peers: they, too, would fare no better at the police station of life, the attitude that tries simply to brush out of view any and all awful reminders of how an inquisitorial spirit would reckon with sinful, meager us.

Therefore to the cipher, and to the elusive dynamic: life dynamic and bursting forth, this day eager and winnowed, fasted and exuberant, in touch with those spiritual things elusive and coded. We are cipher and madness, no turning back lest we turn to a pillar of salt. Yet that is no remorseful march, but a gladsome endeavor to soldier On, Beyond, discovering and seeking the Elusive. Branding and coaching others unto the News. That God is only interested in us when we are thus meek and thus pondering, self-assessing, no larger than life persona entertaining the barracks, but a submitted persona, reflective of what cheer and entertainment is tonight’s doxology. Tonight’s humility. Tonight’s strange “now is all we have” mentality. Tonight will do. Tonight will Rise Up. Tonight will remember and recall. Tonight is the persona, humble and servant unto others, on display, caught up to seventh heaven, because the elusive cipher is purchasing that balancing act and revealed dynamic of us: sinner, and Him: coming alongside to listen and to forgive.