Dying

The church is not dying;

    it cannot ultimately die, as it is

        a bride of the resurrected Christ.

What is dying are our own

    particular ways of doing church;

        those gentle comforters that,

            in the beginning helped us know

                and rest in God’s love and mercy

but now seem to be

    sucked into the intake,

        keeping fresh air from flowing.

THOSE things are dying because

    they are more ours than God's;

        and anything that's ours

            was dying from the day it was born,

                just like we have been.

THOSE are methods.

    What is not dying,

        and will never die,

            is the message.

THIS is what belongs to God;

    what has been freely offered

        to all of creation since

            we were spoken into existence

                out of the swirling waters of chaos;

what has been expanding

    in our hearts and minds

        from the day of our birth.

THIS is what dares us

    to enlarge ourselves to contain it –

        even to allow it to contain us.

It is GRACE; always bigger

    than dreams or comprehension;

        holding room for us, yet  

            forever inviting everyone else;

a feat attainable only by one

    who uses the lazy eight of infinity

        as a front door welcome mat.

    © 2015 Todd Jenkins