Forget the Knee

I currently have no desire to move my left leg at all.

In other news, I am trying to read manga (trying really really hard to like it). Hush.

I am also trying to get organized and get ahead.

Would a lady of reckless abandonment leave things undone? I think not.

From Lady In Waiting by Debby Jones and Jackie Kendall, “The Secret of the Alabaster Box In the days Jesus was on earth, when a young woman reached the age of availability for marriage, her family would purchase an alabaster box for her and fill it with precious ointment. The size of the box and the value of the ointment would parallel her family’s wealth. This alabaster box would be part of her dowry. When a young man came to ask for her in marriage, she would respond by taking the alabaster box and breaking it at his feet. This gesture of anointing his feet showed him honor. One day, when Jesus was eating in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came in and broke an alabaster box and poured the valuable ointment on Jesus’ head (see Mk. 14:3-9). The passage in Luke 7 that refers to this event harshly describes the woman as ‘a woman in the city who was a sinner’ (Lk. 7:37 NASB). This woman found Jesus worthy of such sacrifice and honor. In fact, Jesus memorizlied her gesture in Matthew 26:13 (see also Mk. 14:9). This gesture had such meaning, for not only did she anoint Jesus for burial, she also gave her all to a heavenly Bridegroom. Yes, she was a sinner (who isn’t according to Romans 3:23?), but this sinner had dreams and wisely broke her alabaster box in the presence of the only One who can make a woman’s dreams come true. What is in your alabaster box? Is your box full of fantasies that began as a little girl while you listened to and watched fairy tales about an enchanting couple living happily ever after? Have you been holding on tightly to your alabaster box of dreams, frantically searching for a man worthy of breaking your box? Take your alabaster box to Jesus and break it in HIs presence, for He is worthy of such honor.”

I know, I know. It’s a long quote. And it doesn’t make sense without knowing Ephesians 5:21-29 (or thereabouts) when it talks about what the marriage relationship is supposed to be: a parallel of the love relationship between Christ and the church. I find it beautiful that this woman took the thing that basically equalled part of her self-worth and gave it to Christ. (I also find it slightly macabre that a wedding gift would be used for burial purposes, but that’s probably just me).

To recklessly abandon everything you have at His feet . . . oh, that I would be found worthy of such a gesture. That I would find the courage and the trust to put my self-worth, my hopes, my fears, and all that I am, and recklessly abandon them to Him, who is the only true fulfillment.

I long to hear the voice of my Beloved. (And that, my friends, is from the Song of Solomon. So that’s one of the references from yesterday. Anyone know the other? It’s kind of obscure . . .)