Put to the Test

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,

and him only shall you serve.’”

And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

to guard you,’

and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. Luke 4:1-13

Put to the Test

Waking up from a nightmare
wrestling with old demons
angry men who would expel us
angry women who would hold on.

Life is growing, growing up
growing old, turning, reforming
transforming, remaking
falling in love over and over again.

We are tempted to roll over
hide under the cover 'til the sun shines
bury the changes in romantic ideas
worshiping old iconic gods.

We are tempted to return to Egypt
tempted to let evil win
tempted to give in to terrorists
and give up our children to them.

We are tried by the changing season
light and darkness changing places
young becoming old, babies becoming rulers
we are wanderers lost in a new world.

The Creator breathes on creation again
walking in the early morning dew
gathering the wounded and weary
bearing the yet to be born.

In the chaos of dawning we f9ind God
in our brittle morning eyesight
we glimpse a new possibility of living
and run to the loving arms.

Let us rise to the test and change
make room for former enemy, welcome the strange
tasting sweet summer berries
and living for those who come behind.