Power

...the devil took [Jesus] to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away with you Satan, for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your your God, and serve only him.'" Matthew 4:8-10

Power. It is all about power. The devil is trying to tempt Jesus with something that is not even the devil's to give away!

This past Friday, I think all of humankind had another reminder of just how little power we have. When Japan was hit with a 9.0 earthquake followed by a killer tsunami, I know I felt powerless in the face of what nature can do. We try to make and harness energy - whether it is mining for coal, tapping into gas and oil or using nuclear energy - and find we cannot control them, either. Just look what happened with each of those in the past year:

• Chilean miners were trapped underground for weeks as a result of an explosion.
• Some communities in which gas companies are using a method causing fracking now have contaminated water.
  
• The Gulf of Mexico oil disaster killed marine life and affected communities along the Gulf.
• The combined earthquake/tsunami is now threatening to cause a "level 7" crisis at a nuclear power plant in Japan (comparable to Chernobyl 25 years ago).

These are only just a couple examples. The bottom line is, none of us has the power to control much of anything for very long - whether it's people, or the environment, or institutions. Only God has ultimate authority, ultimate power. I, for one, am thankful for that.

O God, I turn to you, the creator of all things. Help me to serve you and not my own self-interests. The kingdom and the power and the glory are yours!

Wilderness

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." Matthew 4:1

Wilderness
Unknown territory
Wary one looks cautiously around every corner
Stumbles along an uncertain path
Lips and mouth dry
Arms drawn in, close to the body, protective
Feels alone,
Desperate,
Fearful.

Wily evil one
Sniffs out the weakness,
The fear, the desperation.
Sidles up beside the hesitant traveler
Whispers in the ear, as if to be a trusted confidant.
Twists words and meanings
Into confusing and misleading messages
Meant to throw one off the path.
Feeds on the fear -
The strong scent of fear -
Like a blood-thirsty vampire.

But look,
Look!
The Holy One is there -
Always was
Always is and will be.
Ever faithful
Walks beside, accompanies
Carries the water to quench the thirst
Renewing presence.
Leads,
Gently guides the traveler along the rough terrain
Don't you see?
Don't you know?

Fear dissipates.
The wily one withers away.
Unsatisfied.