coldmilktea

Unknown unknowns

Jesus came down the mountain with the cheers of the crowd still ringing in his ears. Then a leper appeared and went to his knees before Jesus, praying, “Master, if you want to, you can heal my body.”
Jesus reached out and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there, all signs of the leprosy were gone. (Matthew 8)

I was driving to work today when I smelled something like burnt oil coming from my fans. This was quite troubling to me, as I had recently taken my car for a check-up. But since my car is about 15 years old, it would not surprise me if there are problems despite the auto service.

I started panicking and going through scenarios in my head. What if it’s an oil leak? Could it be just oil spilled during the check-up, and it’s now burning on some hot metal surface? What if my car breaks down — oh, I’ll have to call a tow truck to bring it to Main Street! I guess I can close my car fan’s air intake right now, but that’s ignoring the problem…

As I kept on driving, I noticed that there was a large construction vehicle in front of me. I also noticed that it was emitting a lot of fumes into the air. So I sped up a bit, bypassed the vehicle, and immediately noticed that the smells were gone. The oil smell did not come from my car. It was actually a smell from another vehicle that my car sucked in.

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I had once heard a sermon about sins, saying that sins are like chewed bubble gum. We apply the gum to our bodies, and others also apply theirs on us. Pretty soon all that gum is entangled. Everything is sticky, stretched out, and hardened together.

Let’s say that one day you are moved to get rid of your personal sins, and so you pray for God to address them — but when you try to pull on one piece it pulls another. You can’t tell which piece and which section was from you, and which piece was from someone else. You want someone to pull out the stuff that you inflicted on yourself, but it’s all mixed together now.

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A friend recently came back from working with youths in China. She shared one story about when their group was introducing “Embrace Therapy”. She said that the organizers picked some youths as demonstration, talked about the importance of touch to humans and our emotions, and then asked them to try hugging each other in the context of this understanding. She said that people started crying. Everyone, including those in the circle, other attendees, and even the group leaders started crying.

She said that in China a lot of parents just don’t hug their kids, and that they are very distant with them. She also said that many of those kids have an inexplicable, unexplained rage or yearning in them, and that through this exercise they finally have a glimpse of what they were missing. Those tears and that embrace, unlocked what they were never able to put into words. Before this, they had no idea what type of neglect was done to them, and it is as if a great healing has being done through this simple act. This simple act of touch.

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“Spirit of the Living God fall fresh again Come search our hearts and purify our lives We need your perfect love We need your discipline We’re lost unless you guide us with your light Lord Jesus come lead us We’re desperate for your touch” - (“Reign in Us”, Starfield)

We are desperate for your touch, because even as we want to be cleaned, we do not know what has been done to us. We do not know the breadth and depth of sin on our lives.

But despite all of this, we know and proclaim this truth: Master, if you want to, you can heal our body.

Worship, Instrument, Tension

“What is to give light must endure burning.” - Viktor Frankl

I’ve always thought that the nature of worship is like a musician playing music. God is the musician, and we are the instruments. He is making music through us and into the world. He is also making music for the sake of his own pleasure.

Which brings me to tension.

The pains and tribulations in our lives, then, is the tension in the violin strings. Because of this tension, we are able to make music. Because of this tension, we can be beautiful. It is through this tension that the master musician reveals his craft. Yes, in some cases these strings may snap, but it is essential.

Best Supporting Actor

Hi. A master director in Hollywood is directing his most ambitious film in his entire career. He claims that this is his life’s work. He has hired his favourite leading man — a thoughtful, charming, critically and commercially-successful Israeli actor. The actor has been training for a few years just to prepare for this physically-demanding role.

Principal filming has largely completed, but the director is now looking to shoot the last third of the footage and has casted you as an supporting actor. Look, I know you’re looking for more leading type of roles, but this is a very rare opportunity. Do you have any idea how many actors want to work with this director? Everything he has done is brilliant, and he has started so many great careers. You always talk about wanting to do meaningful art films, so this is the perfect chance.

Yes, the role is kind of dumb. You will have to play kind of a fool. It’s just a small part, and it’s not nearly as conspicuous as your buddy’s part . But the director has said that you’re perfect for this role. —-Yes! That’s what I’m saying! He has seen your work. He’s seen your work, and he wants to cast you for this. I was actually surprised by how much he knows about your films.

—No… Listen. Listen to me. You can’t. You can’t. You can’t have that role. That’s not what… No, I don’t think you can tell him that. He isn’t going to change the story like that for you. That scene doesn’t play out like that. It’s not about your character. Yeah, it’s the Israel dude.

Yeah. Yeah. That’s right. Exactly! You saw the Oscars two years ago, right? That was such a strange minor character, but she won an Oscar out of it. That’s why I think you should work with this director. He will bring out your best acting yet. You want my opinion? I think you’re right for the role. Honestly. I think it will change your career around.

…

Good. That’s what I want to hear from you. You’ve read the script, so you know how great this script is. Even if your career doesn’t get a boost, it would be a great experience just to have participated. So yeah. Go get them. I think you’ll do great.