Matthew 5:2-3, Mark 5) Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions . . . I love how The Message translation ushers us into the scene. Welcomes us to a still spot on a hill near the Sea of Galilee. Describes the disciples. Climbing companions. So intimate. Inhaling the hillside…

(John 14:31-17:1 TLB) Turning to His disciples, Jesus bids them, “Come, let’s be going.”   And so at dusk, after the last supper, they set off on a path to the Garden of Gethsemane. Winding their way through vineyards. Although His disciples are used to Jesus’ on-the-spot agricultural realities (“Look at the lilies, they . .…

(Mark 11:12-25 TLB) Tidy and tight Leaves no room For the new, For the odd,  For the Spirit. This is part of a poem by Carolyn Byrd entitled “Open Spaces.” She challenges me to consider where I might be too tidy and tight. Where I’m not leaving open spaces for the Spirit to interrupt my…