1 Samuel 15:34 - 16:13
Proper 6 (11) - Year B
A play between the unexpected leadership of the youngest and the rooting of a cedar's growth tip.
In the first instance every institution desires to clone itself at its maturation level and to develop the kind of leaders that are currently present. To turn things on its head is to move back to the movement level, pre-institution. Here creation of the next day of creation is clearer. This is a case of evening and morning, in that sequence. [It would be nice to have the luxury of another comment here about claiming to have no criteria for selection and having handsomeness be sufficient to be noted. That connection will have to wait for another day.] But here we reprise beginnings, with all the attendant uncertainty and subsequent errors to focus simply on the unexpectedness of a new beginning.
In the second instance we note information about a Cedar from the web "Vegetative Reproduction - Cuttings may be rooted with relative ease. A recommended practice is to use cuttings from tips of major branches from the lower crown of young trees, taken from December to February.... Most reproduction, however, is from seed."
Again there is the unexpected process. Instead of propagation from a typical seeding route we have a cutting route. From being a vulnerable part of the tree, with no strength of years ringed around, it becomes the central spot of strength around which new years of growth circle and widen. All would probably be well here if we posit a once-for-all G*D setting things in motion and hiding secret doctrine deep within an institution. When we look at the sweep of scripture, however, we find this cutting process to go on and on and on -- new beginnings from old institutions goes on and on and on.
A call to us, still, is to find new leadership for a new way [are you willing for that to be you?] and to rely upon a tip of new growth rather than the accumulation of rigid doctrine that is good for seeing growth rings, but then can add nothing new [are you willing to be moved beyond that which birthed you?].
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2006/june2006.html
How long will we grieve? Poor Samuel didn't have Elisabeth Kubler-Ross to lead him through any stages. It was get up and get on.
Ezekiel's image doesn't progress through any particular process. There is an intervention, a sprig is planted, a vision established, a journey given to participate in.
For the Psalmist G*D is present before any trouble is on the horizon, during such trouble as arises, and after any trouble has left its mark.
Paul reminds us of the importance of viewpoint. From some vantage points a new creation can be glimpsed that guide our interactions more strongly than the pain of the past.
Seeds have been planted that grow through their usual stages. They can also grow unbidden and unattended to surprise us with a harvest. These seeds do their work through time and beyond time to bring a new perspective from hardened ground. If watered only by tears, yet they flower and fruit.
Where are you in one of your griefs? Ready or not, a sprig has been planted on a dark crag of that mysterious mountain in your life.
- - -
molehills are real
our shape different
because of themthey loom when near
shrink with distance
perspective boundmother-may-I baby steps
seven-league strides
both bring new viewsone for me and one for you
both together
stretching togethernessrecovering from a trip
to grief
and beyond
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html
Ramah – Where Samuel was conceived
Ramah – Samuel persuaded to anoint a king (Saul)
Ramah – Refuge from a last view of Saul
Ramah – Refuge after anointing David
Ramah – Samuel's burial place
Ramah – a high place
Ramah – a place of illicit worship
Ramah – a sanctuary city
Sometimes a place weaves together a number of different life strands. What place keeps cropping up in your life?
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html
“Sorry”, says G*D. “Sorry”, says Samuel.
“Sorry”, doesn’t cut it without the addition of, “Here’s what I’ve learned and am beginning to enact.”
Behaviorally, David is on a par with Saul. G*D’s move beyond “Sorry” seems to be that there will be no second-guessing. David becomes a teflon king.
Samuel helps us recognize how easily things can go awry and how important it is to stay standing up for your own perspective. Samuel didn’t seem able to face the People or G*D or Family. Confusion about who’s calling or what’s needed runs through Samuel’s story. Samuel might be a patron saint for our day - “I won’t be sorry again, I’ll go along.”
For G*D, there is the wonderful out that G*D has a secret plan based on “knowing hearts” - “I won’t be sorry again, I’ll be over here pulling strings and revising history.”
Now for a “Sorry” that will engage rather than avoid or manipulate. I have a way to go. How about you? Surely there is a way to practice a new way, even for us old dogs. Surely a way to claim our “one”ness and our “all”ness with the bold humility of integrity.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2012/06/1-samuel-1534-1613.html