“12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. 15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Cor 9:12-27 ESV)

Stunned wonder, the situation explored, the alienating fears tamped down, unrestricted free-fall meets unlimited Love, Handheld caress, Invite to Come back up here: something mystical has licensed and christened the Mood for Good Things, Buoyant Things, Trans-cubbyholed Things. We have evaded or surpassed the would-be Role-Playing and Cubbyholes. We have been Invited to a solemn feast, a banquet and a stark alacrity of lashing forth, unhindered, re-explored, unrestricted.

We have lashed forth as those no longer Judged or Ameliorated into cubbyhole and convenient dismissal. We are no longer Utilized by a satanic cabal to step on, to use as a leg up, to abuse and plunder. Instead, we are to plunder the world of Love, use the Love, manhandle the Love, see where Tomorrow takes us, denizens of a New Order and Unrestricted Awareness.

Two bears quarrel about each other, circling about and letting out the occasional roar, together comrades do the same, in some strangely chaste Hug and Circling about. We are those bears in some sense, because of a sweeter arrival than anything the flesh can provide. The flesh… it is both to be subdued and to be feared a bit, as far as what indulgences can confuse and misdirect the inner spirit of a Man. Subdued, insofar as we are not the sum of our actions but rather are Upheld as those Understood on God’s Level: on the level of Forgiveness, of yawning over all excesses, since they manifestly cannot Save, but also the Need to have our luscious or indulgent fantasies all gone nothing, gone boredom, gone Forgiven. It does matter what we do with our flesh, and to explore this, to indulge and to wonder, does teach us and keep us alert, to those fantasies that the one in denial hasn’t expunged or talked through, walked through, carefully and momentarily explored through.

Our fantasies of revenge, of aggression, of He-Man strength: these go belly-up in the wild-eyed Gauntlet of repercussions braced for, shockwaves lived through, our precious status, our symbology Pricely and Costly, here we are Post-Sin, and Post-Self-Centered boring aggressions. Our War… we are flying high and walking on wings and a prayer. One Christ figure amongst the cohort, and all are Christ figures. All subdue and submit the Spirit of man to the Revealed magician’s trick of nothing but Pure Hydration and Refreshment in the Name of Christ and of His third Person, the Holy Spirit.

The soldier is stitched up and Reengaged, Weaponized and Sallying Forth, part of a vast Movement and Gameplay, no longer worried for the question: will I be meaningful in my sacrifice? Will any of it Matter? Yes, because the battlelines are drawn and redrawn in kindergarten levels of explanation, and we who do understand, who receive as Children, are never forgotten. Our sacrifices: these are writ in the Master’s Book of Life. The ebb and flow, to some Higher Up it is fearsome and beautiful, a groundswell, life springing forth eternal, an upswell and myriad pieces working together in semaphore and dance most solemn. Solemn yet Life-Giving, joyous even as death is stared down, knowing our Heavensent Master’s solemn yet joyous walk to His Cross. Where we have erred… where we are bound up in sad spirits of dissension or depression… where all and sundry are calling out simply for One Soul to step up to the plate, to Lead, to exuberance assign and agree, healthy-minded because… it is no Denial… all of us are walked through Healings of all trauma and problems in our lives, so we can be—not in denial—exuberant and Life-Giving. The sins of sadness or being too meek: these are Forgiven because God Himself created us in His image, and we are in no way sinners for choosing to Dwell in the Dreamland, provided it is informed by living incarnational Worship. Received as if from the Spirit. Invigorated as if from the Son’s friendship. Certain as if condescended unto by the Father.