giving

Jesus never took. He only gave.

Even the things that were given to him, like a loaf of bread or a fish; it was multiplied and then,

given.

to feed the poor, to heal the sick, to make miracles, to express a love that God had been trying to express amidst rebellion.

He was given a life, and ultimately, gave it up, and gave eternal life to all.

even to abraham, who gave up his devotion and at one point, almost his only son to the Lord, was told

I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.

giving giving giving.

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i have received things abundantly, and sometimes taken things, but not for the purposes of giving it away.

i have received friendship, to hide my loneliness. i have received community, to fill in the gaps. i have received life to do nothing with it. i have received love to devour it

this is my emptiness; because what was given was not sent out. because what was filled has not been poured out, but it has dried up in its vessel. it is my desert, not just because of the lack of rain, but because the water has been spent without growing.

what tree bears a single fruit? what crop bears nothing?

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i am not called to be a fig tree, one that is cursed to wither.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called

oaks of righteousness,

    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

wake up.