Plowing Ahead

A Samaritan Village Refuses to Receive Jesus

 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. ⁵²And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; ⁵³but they did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. ⁵⁴When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ ⁵⁵But he turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶Then they went on to another village.

Would-Be Followers of Jesus

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ ⁵⁸And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ ⁵⁹To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ ⁶⁰But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ ⁶¹Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ ⁶²Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’  Luke 9:51-62

Plowing Ahead

Right now, nothing looks promising
the grey dripping tears sky somber
light disappearing into her winter self
we are on the cusp of a fruitless season.

Bitterness and despair can over take
when the snow flies and winds blow
when the four walls seemed dreary
and even the paint is wearing thin.

There is always work to be done
songs to be sung, babies to rock
elders to comfort, food prepared
love's labor is never lost in winter.

Shoulder to the plow means forward
despite challenges and biting wind
we dig deep furrows and bury seed
possibilities waiting for new light.