- Get link
- Other Apps
Easter Wings
by George Herbert (1633)
Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store,
Though foolishly he lost the same,
Decaying more and more,
Till he became
Most poore:
With thee
O let me rise
As larks, harmoniously,
And sing this day thy victories:
Then shall the fall further the flight in me.
My tender age in sorrow did beginne
And still with sicknesses and shame.
Thou didst so punish sinne,
That I became
Most thinne.
With thee
Let me combine,
And feel thy victorie:
For, if I imp my wing on thine,
Affliction shall advance the flight in me.
I have been reading in the works of George Herbert, who penned a great work of poetry part of which was compiled in a book called "The Temple". This particular work contains two "pattern poems", one of which is pictured above. Unfortunately his poem "The Altar" does not show up well in this format. To view "The Altar" and short commentary, go here .
What impresses me so much about this poem is that Theology becomes right-brained. In truth I could say that "man was created in perfect in God's image; man fell into sin and death entered the world and death through sin; man was separated from God; God loved man so much He sent His Son to die in man's place that he would not have to die for his sin; because God's Son rose from the dead the one who places his faith and trust in Him is raised from death to life."
Yes, these words are true. But how could that truth be put before our eyes in a way that every person in every culture could understand?
Found within God's creation is this living expression called "butterfly". This is the image George Herbert caught and presented to us by careful choice and arrangement of words, to show us not by the weakness of language, but by a common image. Look at the poem again--see the butterfly?
This image is a living demonstration of the downward spiral of man into sin, being "Most poore"; but, "with Thee" man begins his rise from decay into LIFE!
If you turn the butterfly over, looking underneath, you will see the author, mirrored, being "thinne" in poverty; but, "with Thee" being carried ("imp"-ed) on the wings of the Lord, carried to victory!
What picture do the words of your theology make?
by George Herbert (1633)
Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store,
Though foolishly he lost the same,
Decaying more and more,
Till he became
Most poore:
With thee
O let me rise
As larks, harmoniously,
And sing this day thy victories:
Then shall the fall further the flight in me.
My tender age in sorrow did beginne
And still with sicknesses and shame.
Thou didst so punish sinne,
That I became
Most thinne.
With thee
Let me combine,
And feel thy victorie:
For, if I imp my wing on thine,
Affliction shall advance the flight in me.
I have been reading in the works of George Herbert, who penned a great work of poetry part of which was compiled in a book called "The Temple". This particular work contains two "pattern poems", one of which is pictured above. Unfortunately his poem "The Altar" does not show up well in this format. To view "The Altar" and short commentary, go here .
What impresses me so much about this poem is that Theology becomes right-brained. In truth I could say that "man was created in perfect in God's image; man fell into sin and death entered the world and death through sin; man was separated from God; God loved man so much He sent His Son to die in man's place that he would not have to die for his sin; because God's Son rose from the dead the one who places his faith and trust in Him is raised from death to life."
Yes, these words are true. But how could that truth be put before our eyes in a way that every person in every culture could understand?
Found within God's creation is this living expression called "butterfly". This is the image George Herbert caught and presented to us by careful choice and arrangement of words, to show us not by the weakness of language, but by a common image. Look at the poem again--see the butterfly?
This image is a living demonstration of the downward spiral of man into sin, being "Most poore"; but, "with Thee" man begins his rise from decay into LIFE!
If you turn the butterfly over, looking underneath, you will see the author, mirrored, being "thinne" in poverty; but, "with Thee" being carried ("imp"-ed) on the wings of the Lord, carried to victory!
What picture do the words of your theology make?
Popular posts from this blog
“Men and women who saw God in the Bible: Why did they not all die?”
July 2004 I went to Kenya, Africa to speak in two Pastor’s Conferences on the subject of Man, Sin and Salvation. At the end of each day I left just over an hour for questions (half the time were questions touching the subject of my lectures, and the other half for “open questions”; that is, people could ask anything). For the next few weeks, I will be sharing the questions that were asked of me, and my answers—and believe me when I say these people really know how to think! Question from Kenya #1: “Men and women who saw God in the Bible: Why did they not all die?” [“ But He said, ‘You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live! ’” (Exodus 33:20) was the basis of the student’s question]. Answer: First, consider those who did see God—how did they respond when they saw Him? They were instantly aware of their sinfulness, and God’s holiness and righteousness (to name a few. And notice also that each responded in an attitude of worship, bowing down): Abraham built altars, wors
A Sonnet
“My God, where is that ancient heat towards thee, Wherewith whole shoals of martyrs once did burn, Besides their other flames? Doth poetry Wear Venus' livery? only serve her turn? Why are not sonnets made of thee? and lays Upon thine altar burnt? Cannot thy love Heighten a spirit to sound out thy praise As well as any she? Cannot thy Dove Outstrip their Cupid easily in flight? Or, since thy ways are deep, and still the fame, Will not a verse run smooth that bears thy name! Why doth that fire, which by thy power and might Each breast does feel, no braver fuel choose Than that, which one day, worms may chance refuse. Sure Lord, there is enough in thee to dry Oceans of ink; for, as the Deluge did Cover the earth, so doth thy Majesty: Each cloud distills thy praise, and doth forbid Poets to turn it to another use. Roses and lilies speak thee; and to make A pair of cheeks of them, is thy abuse Why should I women's eyes for crystal take? Such poor invention burns in their low mind Wh
Welcome, May!
The past few weeks have been stressful. Training new employees, dealing with difficult customers, not sleeping well, not exercising (I’ve gained 20 pounds in the last two years), getting through family drama (two life-threatening events in the same day, 2000 miles apart: my dad’s heart attack in NM and a 9 year grandchild starting the rest of his life with Type 1 Diabetes) . . . My CrossFit lifestyle withered into oblivion when I lost my job at the University in 2020, as Covid got going. Deep depression brought me to a standstill as I took a few months to try to reset. Since then, my physical status has been on steady decline. Now my daily schedule looks something like this: Work 3-11 pm (on a good day), Go to bed at 4 am, get up between 10:30 am and noon, get booted up and go back to work. If I get one day off a week I’m fortunate. At least I don’t have to work all night for now. That was the worst. So I haven’t had time or energy to do much, even read, much less write. And since my