Today’s post is an excerpt from Chris Maxwell’s poem “A Week of Transformation,” collected in the book embracing now:pain, joy, healing, living. (Used by permission.) This poem reflects on Jesus’ prophecy about the Jerusalem Temple’s destruction (and the destruction and resurrection of the “temple of his body”). When those walls fall, all people may worship the Father “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23).
tuesday now.
this week, a melody merging
unexpected segments
into one story.
temple, you’ll be torn down.
religious marketing schemes,
you’ll be revealed as
missing the points
you promote.
people, all people,
you’ll be loved.
that story of Jesus,
so ancient, so relevant,
so needed today
in my heart and mind,
to redirect my own tendencies
and destroy the making
of my own temples.
oh, may i have ears to hear.
oh, may i have a heart to care.
and, may i enter
the story, hearing walls fall,
seeing the rejected loved, and
noticing the facial expressions
of One walking one day
closer to the cross.
Chris Maxwell is a pastor and author based in northeast Georgia. He serves as Director of Spiritual Life and Campus Pastor at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs. Learn more about Chris and his books at chrismaxwell.me.
