Losing a Grip

Isaiah 61:1-2 ESV

We don’t like losing to anything in America. That’s not true of everyone but for the

vast majority of Americans that is the case.

We are driven.

We don’t like to lose our grip.

While some might think that relates primarily to athletics I beg to differ.

Even in my world of speakers, quiet writers, spiritual folks, and artists we do not like to fail. Yes…

even artists compete in their own way. The competition may spring forth from within but it’s just as

adamant as any football or baseball player. If an artist can’t get “the look” that was envisioned,

they will fight to find it.

The target for many is not finishing the race first. Sometimes it’s more about finding the right words or

the right brushstroke to turn an eye. That is the target even if the art is for a cartoon. I know that sounds

silly and maybe a little ridiculous, but that is the target.

For some, there is another target as well.  The spiritual self also seeks a touch of the divine at every

turn. For myself I do not speak, write, or draw until I pray. It’s a personal choice I make. I choose to

remain connected to the source of life. Part of the connection manifests itself through words and

sketches.

That doesn’t mean anything is worthy of sitting in a gallery. It means it passes muster with what

God intended.

Isaiah 61:1-2 says, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.”

But what if the poor in Spirit grieve the loss of the good news of God’s love and comfort.

The broken-hearted seek a smile or a laugh.

The captives need to experience a ray of hope.

The prisoners need to think outside the box.

The truth is that the Lord’s favor is everywhere when we seek the Lord.

I’m not certain why but the Hebrew in these verses speaks eons that fail us in the

English.

A literal translation of the Hebrew says, ‘The breath of the Lord Holy God is on me because

Holy God anointed me to speak of goodness to the poor in Spirit. Holy God has sent me to

offer healing to the broken and to set the captives free from bondage.’

We realize the words the prophet wrote are filled with the reality of the personal nature of God

and man.

God’s breath is on us. God gives us purpose.

The breath of God is on creation still. We see it in every sunrise and sunset. Creation responds

to God’s movement. Man and woman were given the right to choose and I think that’s because

God didn’t want love to be forced.

We choose to interact with God or we choose to ignore God. It’s our choice. I personally don’t

believe specific words need to be spoken. Interacting with God is not an act of doing. It’s about

being…choosing to be in God.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me!

Deborah

Acrazyjourney.com