Journey into Outer Grace

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There are times when I feel like a prophet.  And times when I don’t.  I suppose that’s part of the paradox of being in the dark while at the same time having moments of incredible perception about life.  A blessing from God, you might say.

And then there are times that you say something but had no idea how prophetic a statement you were making.  It certainly wasn’t your insight.

That’s what happened to me 2 years ago.  Jenno and I were living in England and had written up our quarterly newsletter to send to our friends and family in the States.  In November, as I was writing the feature article, I was inspired by this image in my head, of a tsunami… a massive wave that surges toward land and crashes down on it.  My imagination was captivated by the metaphor of such a wave.  I wrote down some thoughts about it, comparing the kingdom of God to a tsunami and the birth of Jesus as the seismic shock which started it.  My first sentence read, “What in the world does Christmas have to do with a tidal wave?”  You can read the full article on this link: http://vingilot.files.wordpress.com/2006/12/christmas-2004-newsletter.doc

After our newsletter was sent out in December ‘04, I forgot about it.  Until Boxing Day, December 26 that year, when the worst tsunami in recorded history struck the coastlines of the Indian Ocean, killing eventually 230,000 people.

It was eerie.  I’m not saying there was a connection, but we live in a strange world, a world that groans in labor (Romans chapter 8, in the New Testament).

The tragedy was terrible to track, especially as the death toll mounted.  And in all of this I was saddened that the image of a tsunami would only bring to mind death and destruction.  But that is, I suppose, the very nature of a metaphor–trying to achieve new depth of meaning by comparing things which seem opposite.  A tsunami seems a very raw and powerful danger; but if a poet says, “I was engulfed in the tsunami of her love,” we begin to understand.

You see, in some ways I felt the image was spoiled–would people still be able to embrace my idea of God’s grace being a spiritual tsunami which would transform & renew those who seek Him in faith?  Or would it be anathema…?  Are disturbing images redeemable?

Before the tsunami happened, I had started a new email account (grace.tsunami@btinternet.com).  I chose to keep this until we left England because I believe it is still possible to separate the 2004 Tsunami from the imagery of a tsunami which powerfully reminds us that the coastline of our soul can be consumed but not destroyed; covered yet not drowned; conquered yet free and new in some sacred sense.

But then don’t listen to me–I’m only a snow-prophet.

Brian