2024-10-13 A Meditation on Christian Framework

“21 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.” (John 21:1-8 ESV)

A net widespread yet netting no fish; a peacetime loving project that nonetheless engenders war; plain reality that the Christian’s call in life becomes at times bleary-eyed and feels futile. Amidst all this, however, those precious hours of “I can’t…” give way to a third hour called “Here and now let me go at it!”. Go at the speaking or at the good deeds, go at the Inspired Prayer or at the murmured thanksgiving. We are after all, new Christians all of us, called to reflect just on the soliloquy and tuneful flightful spirit in the air. To reflect: and therein to awaken Broadminded, Pastoral, Ironical in our grin and Soulful in our severe facial expression.

It was no easy thing that brought us here, and to others who call us fools, we are those open and widespread in freedom that rings out, widespread to share without cost, to consult without fee, to Believe: God made such as these in order that the thankless task of averting full-scale War might be donned upon the cap of this simple soldier or that. The most important deeds being the thankless ones. The legalistic unrelenting Framework now so much fluid water under the bridge: your Framework denies that all life is capricious and hilarious and flawed and misappropriated; give, therefore, a Better Framework that is sourced in its Christianity.

In our Christianity, wherein that dour empty hour gives rise to a latter hour hopeful and True. It was a waking vision, images that walked a suddenly familiar line from a dream or from a deja vu—I’ve been here before—and that showed us patient Trust Fall, or rather eager Readiness to be those conscribed and enlisted. We are after all… what after all are we after, if not a Framework all Yes on some level, though fully aware that said Framework will draw out the worst demons and showcase the worst inclinations of the human heart, and cause the very possessed souls to scream out. In and through all this, we are the nouveau rich in spirit, the latter confessors, who held out a mighty long time yet are still Cause and Reason for a new birth and new beginning, a gestation of the soul, a labor pain of the heart: it is never too late.

Never too late to be that one who Rules, who Leads with her or his own prayer of humble access. Her or his own exemplary Fruit of the Spirit, what Spirit is All-Knowing and All-Powerful, to be honored in our own frames via no clericalism that makes the ordained sinner out to be some perfectionist, but via that narrow way Showcased: walk like I do… walk in contrition… walk in that New Energy allotted unto all who truly Believe.