Category: creative expressions

Journey of Tears

Henna En Gedi Meme Song 1:14

To get the ball rolling again, I’ll start off with something short. It’s a poem I was made to revisit in a surprising “this-is-the-Lord” sort of way recently. It doesn’t rhyme and needs tweaking but hopefully the progression comes through. Henna, or Camphire, is a plant metaphor I wrote about a few years back, one …

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The Parable of Little Bird

“Little Bird,” as she called herself, once lived a very full life. She spent most of her time in the air; flying was her favorite thing to do! She also adored her bird friends, the ones her Creator gave her as gifts. Together they flew back and forth to their seasonal homes, raised children, and sang beautiful melodies.

One Spring day, however, Little Bird injured her wing by flying into a glass window. She thought she’d have to rest only a little while, but…

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In the Secret Garden, Part 1 – “A Lily Among Thorns”

Secret Garden in the woods

A Story From Song 1:15 – 2:2

The moment the Shulamite woman dreamed about had finally arrived, that one she waited for, and journeyed at such great risk to experience. King Solomon was standing with her and holding her hands, staring at her adoringly. They exchanged some words of praise at their appearance to each other, skipping small talk entirely. Neither one were much for small talk.

Then she saw it! Like a door into another world …

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On the Scent Trail of Henna – Song 1:14

The Ein-gedi Botanical Gardens, Israel

The Shulamite woman quietly enters a room, where King Solomon is seated at his “round table.” Busily talking to his men and looking at charts, he doesn’t see her behind him. But soon he lifts his nose to the air and closes his eyes…obviously catching a waft of her perfumed presence! This delights the Shulamite, and she sings, (which only she hears, as this is like an opera) “While the king is around his table, my spikenard spreads its fragrance!” verse 12.

Solomon returns to looking at his papers, but there’s a boyish smile on his face. We know that he knows, that his lover is in the room. The Shulamite, however…

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Precious Myrrh Between My Breasts (Song 1:13)

Pic of Woman holding a locket close to her heart

My beloved is like a pouch of myrrh that rests between my breasts.– Song 1:13.

Anna, 

I am speaking to you today, a fictional daughter, who has a name that’s dear to my heart. My Mom always thought it’d be nice to be called Anna. If she could change her name. So precious Anna, draw close. I have something to show you. It’s something I hope you can also smell.

See it here? This small, tightly-bound satchel hanging between my breasts? It’s called “Myrrh.” Go ahead, open it. The crystals are beautiful in color, aren’t they? Some call them “tears.” And for good reason.

I’ll try to be brief…

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A Humble Metal Worker Gets a Knock On The Door…

Picture of a metal worker in his shop

Something beautiful is happening. In a humble and secluded corner of God’s Kingdom, a simple servant has been employed by the King of Israel to make some adornments for the Bride. Tirelessly working through the night and day, the metal worker labors in his craft to do his very best. He thinks back to yesterday, when Solomon came knocking on his door.

It’s for my beautiful mare!” Solomon told him, his face beaming with a great smile. The old man glanced at him, puzzled. But the king went on to explain more…

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A Black Tent – and a Different Kind of Beautiful!

Woman covered with a dark covering shawl

Jay Ferris had a striking analogy that was not always understood at first.

The Kingdom of God is like a drop dead gorgeous woman
who walks into a room full of women….gender neutral
.”

The point was not this woman is beautiful, or that she is confident in her beauty, but rather the reaction she gets from the other women. Jay went on to explain the “gender neutral” part:

“A man generally has to either say something or do something to get the same effect. And if a man either says something or does something that is prettier than what the other men in the room are saying or doing, it’s the same dynamic that goes on. It’s seen best when Jesus came to Jerusalem.All the experts who were experts before He got there, wanted to kill Him.”

What a poignant image this is, considering there was a houseful of women in …

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There She Stands – Faced With The Bittersweetness Of Myrrh (Song 1:3)

Bottle of Anointing Oil with Myrrh

After violently pushing through competing lovers and loves, the Shulamite is finally in a place where she could be close enough to Solomon to be kissed by Him. It’s all she wants. She knows from experience that His expressions of love bring her joy and satisfaction, more than the best wine can ever do.  

But first, she is instantly overwhelmed with Solomon’s fragrance. It is an anointing cologne that the king wears that is unique to him, made up of costly spices. 

She breathes it in deeply, memorizing each of its bold, yet subtle nuances. One of the spices she recognizes is Myrrh. It fills her with emotions. Memories of her father’s death. And memories of King David’s death. 

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