Join the Spiritual Thursday round up at Reading, Teaching, Learning.
Holly invites us to write about each other’s one little word. This week we are writing about my word, Present. Click on the icon above to go to other blogs to see what they are saying about Presence.
On Sunday, one of the readings was from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. He writes about spiritual gifts. Thinking of the word presents as a synonym for gifts, I decided to re-write the verse into a more modern version.
A rewriting of Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 12:1-11
Now concerning spiritual gifts, there are many.
The Spirit is generous when you agree to it.
Manifested for peace and goodness,
our hearts must play along.You may have the gift of speaking
with confidence and knowledge.
Like our friend, Martin, with his dream,
you should speak up.You may be the one we can all count on,
you show up and bring food. You give us hugs
and tell us how pretty we look today.You may be the one who comforts, you know
about essential oils and whole foods. Your touch
on our chakras can produce heat and healing.You may understand fully the phases of the moon.
You know the best time to plant trees. You feed the birds.
You have an herb garden.
And free range chickens. One is named Harvey.You may be a collector of words,
Uplifting our days on Facebook
with a quote of the day.
Always clever, ever kind.Whatever your gift of the Spirit is,
use it. Flaunt it. Show it off.
You never know who’s watching,
learning, growing, needing
the very thing you have to give.Don’t question the Spirit. It knows
what it knows and chooses whom it chooses.
Embrace His Presence. Let it shine.
Let it shine.
Let it shine!
So interesting that you took your word and made it into “presents”! Also interesting that you wrote about spiritual gifts. In my post I wrote about starting my class on spiritual gifts. It’s one of my passions to help people discover what their spiritual gifts are. 🙂 Your rewriting of Corinthians was inspired! I think everyone will enjoy thinking about your word today. It’s a good one!
Margaret, you have many gifts, one of which is walking through the world with love, and sharing that love with others in your quiet, thoughtful way (like this shiny poem!). Thank you! So happy to know you!
Margaret, the gifts of the Spirit are so faith-filled and what you did with the verse is provide us with a modern-day vision of the uniqueness of gifts.
Wonderful thought: “You never know who’s watching,/learning, growing, needing/the very thing you have to give.” Believing that each of us has a gift to give is comforting and helps to develop empathy and appreciation for each other as human beings.
I love your rewrite. What an inspired way to bring scripture into our lives Thank you for your word. It was a lovely present this week.
Thank you for inviting us into your OLW, with self-reflections. Thank you, too, for sharing your poem, which speaks about the Gifts of the One Holy Spirit so powerfully to me during this Prayer for Christian Unity Week.I believe that this year’s theme is the Mighty Works of God. As we respond to the Spirit in any one of the many ways you outlined, we are privileged to be able to do our own unique part to manifest those Works. Thank you for inspiring that response. God bless you!
I enjoyed thinking about the various meanings of “Present’ and this spiritual gifts poem puts the spotlight on the gift present. You have chosen a rich word!
You are incredible. Not only do you have many gifts that you share almost every day, today you have given me the gift of writing to my heart. This “rewrite” is powerful and touches me deeply.
Saved your post to read last. So interesting to read all the different posts about present, and your twist on presents as spiritual gifts. Love your poem,especially these words: “Whatever your gift of the Spirit is, use it…you never know who’s …needing the very thing you have to give.” Thanks for all you give through your writing. We are blessed to read your words!
I to love the connotations you used for presents. His gifts are wonderful and free. We should use them to influence and help all we can to find Jesus.
Margaret, your poem is so beautiful. As someone who is still searching for my spiritual gift, I love that your words showed us that “our gifts” are often found in the small things we do each day that make life so meaningful. Thank you. : )
I am just now getting back to reading and commenting. I love how you used your word presents as spiritual gifts. The last verse is my favorite – Don’t question the Spirit. Hmm I need to listen that more closely. You and your words are a gift to so many.