Beatifically challenged

As I've said before, we're currently studying the beatitudes on a Tuesday evening in Zac's Place. If you don't know, the beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10) could be considered the first sermon of Jesus and in it he sums up what it is to be his follower. They're a familiar set of words and each of the eight beatitudes begin 'Blessed are the ...'

I set myself the challenge of writing something each week about that particular beatitude and I've blogged the first two on here but now I've put them all together on my other blog lizslongbits

I've tried to use different styles of writing so you've got my ramblings, a soundbite, a prayer, a story and so on. I was away for one week (but will do it in time) and I haven't added this week's yet as I'm still working on it, but, in case you're interested they're here: The Beatitudes

Beatitudinal art

Sean had some funding to commission artwork for Zac's Place and he asked a variety of artists to create work based on the beatitudes. I meant to show them alongside my writing but here are the first two.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In the first third of the painting heaven, indicated by the gold colouring, appears to be in the sky a long way off but as you close in on the girl, who seems dejected and down, waiting at the bus stop you can see the gold in the tear in her eye.

Doris is a sculpture of mourning. In her back there are small drawers that can be opened and that contain different things illustrating loss.

(I can't remember the artists' names; I must check and add them.)

Beatitudes 2

Blessed

are those who

mourn for they know

what it is to love. They have

trodden in the footsteps

of Christ.

Beatitudes 1

Last week in Zac's we started a study of the beatitudes (the bit in the sermon on the mount where Jesus says, 'Blessed are those etc').

The first one is: Blessed are those who are poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. I've set myself the task of writing something each week to go along with the verse we're looking at so last week I wrote this:

I am spiritually bankrupt.

The store of good deeds I keep under the bed is all used up.

The brownie points in the safety deposit box have been declared null and void.

Even my secret numbered Swiss bank account, the repository for my gold stars, has been closed for lack of deposits.

I have nothing.

So I am blessed.

But even as I write this I wonder, do I really believe it?

That there is truly nothing I can do?

Isn’t there a bit of me that thinks surely the patience I used in my dealings with my boss must be rewarded?

God must be watching me when I insist on fairtrade tea.

My generosity must earn me a better seat at the feast.

It must.

And isn’t that easier to accept?

That I can earn if not my way then at least a trouble-free passage into heaven.

An ABC of boxes to tick.

Didn’t swear when provoked by a stupid man driver: tick.

Did make extra effort to deal gently with my mother-in-law: tick.

Did make time for a friend when I didn’t really have time: tick.

Didn’t feel proud of myself for that act of nobility: cross.

And I find myself again at the cross, aware that even these superficialities of behaviour don’t even scratch the surface of my sinful self.

And at the cross I kneel,

Head bowed, empty handed, acknowledging my need

Wanting to believe

Wanting to accept

Wanting to be accepted

Wondering why it’s so hard to

Accept

Believe

That I can be

Accepted

Forgiven

Loved.

Not through me

But through you

In whom my treasure lives.