A Chiasm… (A What?)
I have spent the last two weeks trying to write a blog post. Four posts later, I’m still not satisfied with any of them. This is the way my New Year has gone so far. I feel the push to post something catchy, creative, or something related to children’s books and New Year’s. The pressure is a total creativity killer and I know this which sends me further into a spiral of being stuck. Ugh!
Right now, I just have more questions than answers which does not help my blog post flow. Who the heck am I? Who do I want to be? Am I just a phony? Do I really believe in God? Weirdly, a chiasm finally settled my heart.
All I could muster this morning was a walk with my furry friend, Finley. I decided to listen to an episode from the BEMA podcast. For those of you who have grown up in legalistic homes or need fresh life breathed into scripture, this podcast is especially for you. It will make you fall in love with the bible and God all over again. When I’m doubting my faith, I step into BEMA. Today the host was talking about the dreaded Old Testament chapters Exodus 24-40. If you’ve ever tried to read through them, they are exceptionally tedious descriptions of how to build a tabernacle, which was noted by the host.
I was struck by the host’s conversation about the chiasm. Bear with me - I’m just learning about them and their importance… Chiasms in scripture are like patterns in poetry… AB—BA or ABC—CBA. Siitting right in the middle (—) of two similar verses is the central point God wants you to pay attention to. Chiasms shout the “theme” and call the reader to take note.
The message in the Tabernacle chaism that sits in the middle of all the mind- numbing details of how to build tabernacle is Ex 33:14: “My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” (Why God couldn’t have just said that, I don’t know!)
When people encountered God in the Tabernacle - when he came out and consumed the offering with fire, the people fell on their faces. I always assumed it was out of fear, but the verses don’t say that. They did NOT fall on their faces out of fear (Why would they if the main message is “I will give you rest”?) Instead, they felt so much overwhelming joy at having experienced God’s presence among them that they fell on their faces! God was glad to be there. (Lev 9:23-24 for example) They are reminded that God is with them and they will be given rest. They are reminded to trust the story, not their circumstances. And joy was their response!
So, who the hell am I? I don’t know, but I want to be in the presence of this God and know this joy. Who do I want to be? I’m still not sure, but I know I want to be “a walking, breathing, living invitation to trust the story”. Am I a phony? Most assuredly, but aren’t we all? I think I’ll just trust the bigger story and if I can keep company with all of you who are learning to fall on your faces with joy, who cares?? Is there really a God? Probably…I have more hope today than I did yesterday.
So, nothing catchy this month…just me, a little refreshed by some truth about God.
(It also occurred to me after listening to this podcast, that all my books - well, two of them and the third coming this year - have a chiasm with a central and important theme that I want people to notice and be changed by: They are true adventure stories that present a problem then offer RESILIENCE, HOPE and COMMUNITY as the way to resolution. They don’t offer answers, but presence and tenderness. Maybe I’m not as succinct as God, but it IS a theme!)