Lines and Circles

Many things are cyclical – many others are linear.

Growing corn and cows are cyclical works. Start with a seed, move through the cycle until you have lots of seeds, and cornbread along the way. Start with a cow and a bull, move through the cycle until you have lots of bulls and cows, and cream and steak along the way.

Becoming a citizen in the Kingdom of Heaven is linear work. I was born of Yahweh, I became a son until I became mature enough to become a slave, and I am now being handed responsibility and authority as a mature son. What is next is vague on days, but it will not be the return to an earlier nature or status. It will be more mature.

Cycles come and go without my leadership usually. I can wisely take advantage of the dynamics of cycles, and beat more productivity out of them, by watering the corn and feeding the cows, but in many places in the earth, there are trees and corn and other plants and many animals that have never been influenced by or even seen by humans. The cycles are built in.

Linear advances seem to be in two directions – decay or improvement. One comes from neglect, the other comes from purpose.

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.
Day after day they pour out speech;
night after night they communicate knowledge.
There is no speech; there are no words;
their voice is not heard.
Their message has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.

In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a groom coming from the bridal chamber;
it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
It rises from one end of the heavens
and circles to their other end;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
(Psalm 19:1-6 HCSB ©®)

The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He renews my life;
He leads me along the right paths
for His name’s sake.
Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I live.
(Psalm 23 HCSB ©®)