Movement

Movement.  In the desert.  A flurry of activity from a cookie-cutter civilization.  Movement toward a common goal.  Build a tower.  Build a grand tower brick by brick to scrape the sky. To stand so high you watch clouds float by.  Movement. Upward mobility, the type of which would bring a great name for a people unto itself.

Movement. In the desert.  The Lord came down. Always down, to meet the people of God’s creation.  The humanity which he brought with the breath of life. The humanity he had named.  They dared to make a name for themselves. Only God names.  Movement.  The Lord scatters the people. God divided their tongues.  No longer one language, no longer one culture, no longer one people.  Movement. Scattered like dry leaves from a strong wind. 

Movement.  Generation after generation the people scattered upon the earth. Divide, then multiply. Then divide again.  All strive to make a name.  All strive to hold their own power.  All strive to be like God. All strive to be favored by God.  And all fail. Until….

Movement.  The Lord came down. Always down, to meet the people of God’s creation.  The humanity in which he had breathed life, the humanity God named--Emmanuel. God with us.  Only God names.  Movement.  Jesus walked among us, gathering the scattered, healing the lame, feeding the hungry, speaking the Word.  All strive to give him names.  Son of Man, Son of God, Messiah, Rabbi.  All strive to give him power. Make him King.  All strive to be like God.  All strive to be favored by God. 

Movement.  A walk to death, a place on the cross. A final breath. A burial. A stone rolled away.  A stranger on the road, a stranger on the beach. A savior, who once was dead and now is alive. Raised to the God who always comes down, to be seated with God at the throne of grace.

Movement.  Shifting eyes and sweaty hands. Feet shuffling on the dusty floor of a cramped room.  Disciples of a Rabbi who had gone ahead of them. The students must become the leaders. When the day of Pentecost had come, they were gathered in one place. But that was as far as they’d come.  As far as they could go.  They no longer knew movement.  They were stagnant. Weighed down by the crush of fear. 

Movement.  A strong wind. God’s breath, the very Spirit of God tore through windows, whipping the robes and sashes of the people. People gathered yet scattered. It filled the house.  Divided tongues of fire rested on each head.  Movement.  Once frozen in fear, now thawed.  Filled with the Holy Spirit they knew the words to speak.  They spoke in other languages. And they began to comprehend. Amazed. Astonished. Movement.  God’s people scattered. God’s people gathered.  Children of God. Heirs of God. United with Christ-- brothers and sisters.  Go out. Go out. Go out.  Movement.