Sailing Between the Stars?

Okay, that's a new thought! Steven James' words, well, they are almost lyrics, have been imprinted deeply in my soul as I've been reading his book, 'Sailing Between the Stars - Musings on the Mysteries of Faith.' Steven shares, "I think God's love is meant to be encountered, received, embraced, even guzzled and gobbled by famished souls, but not necessarily understood".

Steven said, "Paul calls Jesus the mystery of God' (Colossians 2:2 NIV). Most of the time I tend to picture truth and mystery and lying on different ends of a continuum, but Jesus reveals that they're simple opposite facets of the same thing-- God's love made real in the world. Mystery and truth lie in the same direction and the same place--within the heart of a man born in a stable. He is truth wrapped in mystery; wonder wrapped in love. For a long time my life was adrift, but when I discovered where to lash my boast, I finally found a dock that would not float away, as well as a sail that would take me into the deepest waters of life".

Wow.....Steven's words wake up my soul and cause me to long for more... more relaxing into the Mystery that our Creator brings into our little world. More guzzling and gobbling because my soul is famished. More enjoying and embracing His love, His grace and His presence and not trying to understand it, just receiving.

I share one more thought from 'Sailing Between the Stars' -- "In the end, the question at the heart of Christianity is not 'Who do I want to be' but 'Whose do I want to become--my own or His?'

Steven wrote these words...

the carpenter picks up the saw
and walks toward me again.
I shudder and gasp, "why?
why is he torturing me like this?"
but then, after the blade
has done it's work, I realize that
in the hands of a master carpenter,
no piece of wood is safe
from becoming a masterpiece.

Whew....Steven, thank you for being who you are and for sharing your lyrical thoughts with me. Thank you Papa God for changing me deep within through these words. I want to be Your masterpiece.

You can explore the world of Steven here: http://www.stevenjames.net/ AND here is his blog: http://stvjames.blogspot.com/

PS: photo was taken in Charleston SC harbor while on a sunset sail in July 2008. A memory that still takes my breath away.