“18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:18-30 ESV)

One person’s calamity is another’s opportunity; rather, one person can turn their calamitous thinking into Positivity because of the friendship tip, the Expansive life together Framework, the hidden gems of “my kind of people” or “my restful Crew come day’s end”. “You mean, we had room to roam? That there was Friendship to be Had?” All this, and the wager that we were after all Formed for this hour, to light up the night sky with celebratory handshakes and fireside embers, lifting, aloft, Energized for the crusade or the Expedition.

What we are is plain for all to see, not conceding the “plausible” when there is the “hopeful” or the “daring” to boast in: it is, after all, plausible that we’d be breathing threats of War against this retreat or that nation, but turns out no it is a benevolent Alliance and in that alliance the friends are lancing forth against Evil perceived in Common.

What we are is a litany of barking back and forth, rather, of delineating calm Peaceful mandates and reminders: that is no Threat but rather a Juxtaposed, kumbaya Vision. A person who has Vision, for the gathering as assembled, for the community, for the neighbors and family at large.

This vision counsels us to think in terms of Blessing one another, as healers, as story-tellers, as no logic here Brave servants. We, after all, have Tasted and seen that the Lord is good: we have tasted the fruit of a New Doctrine, scarcely spoken of, not found in the daily papers, but one wherein—yes, mistakes will be made by these distant prophets—there is a Modern and Relevant encounter with Law and Gospel.

With that very notion, theologically-understood, that Man will have no trouble inventing Morality but what Man needs is to be grappled with and arrested and wrestled down in the name of Grace rather than Law: Man needs to be subdued by a hands-off Agreement. Accept the Lord’s Bounty. Agree to the sublime End of moralizing and the end of what is only a moral tale. A shoulda-woulda-coulda that Ends, and a Sincere sense of personal concern for our very own souls. Our selves Loved on and meekly Uplifted. You get the business side of things; let me get the servant-minded Grace side of things.

Deeply embedded, then, we are fully aware: the enemy would love to know what our deepest battle is, whether theological or otherwise, that they might invade with propaganda and counter-intelligence, that is, against the Forwardly-Positioned movers and shakers, the ones under handler and enabler, who are Today staring down death because society doesn’t “just work”.