2025-01-10 A Meditation on Inspiration

“15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” (John 15:1-17 ESV)

The pinch, inspiration in replicate. To live as though time itself were sovereign, able-bodied, ready-minded, our utility to the brethren, to the sistren, is itself unorchestrated as to rhyme and reason, but mightily orchestrated in that avenue unplanned, of the Holy Spirit.

The pinch, to be Trained Up, mightily put through a Basic Training, on all things sublime, we do well to learn to act like sovereign agents of a secret society, of a crown, of a plain-spoken wearing of the heart on the sleeve: what we are is plain for all to see; our Training, this has led to care around disclosures, but that only because the secret thing is in no way compromising, no way changing, the Message. What is known is known to all, that God is for us, that Christ is our Brother, that our Brother and Sister in the Trinitarian-faith, is steadfast, ready stare, steady gaze, knowing only this: the apocalypse is starting, for some, while others have a bastion of pure freedoms. The news flashes, the burning days, these are only the first birth pangs.

Unspooked, untouched, to reflect on just what and who is “Out There”, the fact of a curiosity factor that lazily watches or critiques: we are still those “Free” as to shape-shifting, game-changing, plain Enthusiasm for a Right Cause: our Cause is Right, because we believe in Original Sin; we believe in Lethargy; we believe in peoples Bound Up. Who can deny, that the Spirit Inimical, the Enemy’s touch, is a fact of nature, a force most severe yet that also dispels when once we raise up a Standard, refuse to sit idly by.

And we mourn with those who mourn, whilst steely-gazed with those who watch. For a chance to Redeem. For a newsflash of Life Affirmed. For a bunker-dweller’s Courage to shine, in the good Name of Gospel Certainty. To ready oneself, basic training as to Disciplines that in myriad unknown ways Inform and Shape our inspired daily moves. We move about, we speak, we intuit, each day at the great peril of making impossible errors, yet we Err Not. We are trained as to times and seasons. We are taught, if you must put it to paper, enter it in the search bar, let it be certain it is something Gospel-Centered, life affirming: we are judged on every word. We need not Reveal what is secret, only this: that our “Secrets” are a patient tutelage, to reassert, to reaffirm, to build up, each other in the Certainty: of a parent who gives space and latitude to their child; of a teacher who lets the student of Basic Training keep their own counsel. We are taught up to be Ready and Secretive, towards the end of being Plain for All to See. Those are fruits most ignorant of evil threat. Those are words to live by. Those are cause to sacrifice for. Friends to cherish, relationships to rebuild. In time, unhurried by any Evil, we launch forth into the great Unknown, because our ticket is Known: Christ for us. Christ beside us. Christ attentive to us. We know and love this our heavenly Family. Because on some level we are co-witnesses, fellow travelers, collaborators. The soldier in us therefore shines forth this Day, without nary a worry of future hardships and blasts. All are on the line, in the great Exchange called Witness, called Testimony, called gaze unto Heavenly things