by Ken Hildebrand
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Ken Hildebrand has granted permission for you to use his DGD artwork and poetry.
View/purchase Ken’s artwork at
kenhildebrand.com.
Week 1: Relationship: Captivated and Committed
The Journey
The beginning of the sermon series and the beginning of our life and faith journey. A roadway stretches before us, over hill and valley and laden with detours. Off in the distant horizon stands our goal . . . the cross. On this journey we remain committed to living the life of Christ as symbolized by the cross, ever mindful of the hills, valleys and side roads that will test us along the way.
The Journey
The beginning of a journey . . . the beginning of every journey
First footsteps . . . while reading a map that becomes clearer with time
A map drawn with absolute clarity . . . yet still difficult to follow its trails
Dedicated to following its pathways . . . yet we often go astray
Following our earthly and eternal map . . . we encounter travellers along the way
We share the map
In sharing the map . . . we share ourselves
In sharing ourselves . . . we become the map
In becoming the map . . . we honour the Map-maker
The beginning of a journey . . . the beginning of every journey
First footsteps . . . while reading a map that becomes clearer with time
2004 © kjh
Week 2: Spiritual Self-Care: Thriving and Thirsting
The Flower
The flower endures floods and droughts to reach its final beauty . . . like we humans on our faith journey. Struggles, challenges, and almost giving up . . . and then, blossoming into fullness, while supported by the cross.
The Flower
A seedling . . . like a newborn baby, tiny, and in need of care
Planted in the warm black earth . . . in anticipation of a rich harvest
Through warm days and starlit nights . . . the sprout stretches to the sky
This same sky sends a summer storm . . . torrents of rain wash the earth away
The young roots lie exposed . . . drying in the warming sun
Strong hands tenderly lift the seedling . . . and re-root it in the soil
The seedling grows strong again . . . adding new leaves each day
After days of energized growing . . . an errant footstep
A crushing blow . . . leaving a broken stem and lifeless leaves
Strong hands tenderly lift the seedling . . . and re-root it in the soil
A slow recovery . . . but growing once again
Flooding rains and desert drought . . . threaten the seedling’s life
Each time strong hands tenderly lift the seedling . . . and re-root it in the soil.
Just a seedling . . . continuing on against all odds
Just a seedling . . . and then one morning . . . from seedling to a flower
A flower . . . its beauty more intense from the scars on its stem
A beauty more beautiful . . . when framed by ragged leaves
A seedling . . . like a newborn baby, tiny and in need of care
Planted in the warm black earth . . . in anticipation of a rich, rich harvest
2004 © kjh
Week 3: Community: Bonded and Building
Together
Challenged by a raging river, a hand bridges over to the other side. Our hand extended to others becomes the hand of God . . . together, a bridge to reach the Promised Land.
Together
Journeying to the Promised Land . . . over the hills and through the valleys
Moving slowly . . . and learning along the way
Over high hill and valley low . . . and then we came to the river
Not the river of the Promised Land . . . not the river of milk and honey
A river of swirling waters . . . much too swift to cross
But we must carry on to the Promised Land . . . where do we go from here?
Look for calmer water . . . call this the Promised Land? . . . or maybe build a bridge?
We have no wood or iron . . . how can we build a bridge?
If we each become a piece . . . together we can be the bridge
I will go first . . . hold my hand
Step by step, hand by hand, heart by heart . . . into the swirling water
A living, breathing bridge . . . reaching over to the other side
The last one’s safe . . . a great lesson learned
To reach the Promised Land we must travel together
Travel together, to ford the swift rivers . . . with the strong carrying the weak
Travel together, where young help the old . . . and old teach the young
Together, no hill too high, no valley too low, no river too deep
To keep us . . . from reaching the Promised Land
2004 © kjh
Week 4: Witness: Inviting and Influencing:
Look for God
Prayers drift heavenward on wisps of smoke . . . God’s answers gently drift down on snowflakes. Evidence of God is all around us . . . in the trees . . . in the water . . . in the sky. Like God’s other creations, let us be evidence of God.
Look for God
Look for God . . . but where?
Listen for God . . . but how?
Is God really invisible
Or have we forgotten how to see?
Is God’s voice inaudible
Or have we forgotten how to hear?
Look for God . . . in wisps of rising smoke
Drifting heavenward, just like our prayers for you
Listen for God . . . in the sound of falling snow
Silent, like our prayers for you, but real just the same
Look for God . . . in the breeze beneath a bird’s wing
Like our love . . . lifting and carrying you
Listen for God . . . in the voice of an innocent child
Like our love, not judging . . . but picking you up if ever you fall
Look for God . . . in the richness of black soil
The rich soil that we are . . . for growing in God
Surrounded by God . . . just look and listen
Just look and listen . . . to see and hear God
To see and hear God . . . in the people we are
2004 © kjh
Week 5: Alignment: Discerning and Disarming
Surrender
Hands held in praise . . . hands held in surrender . . . hands held in sacrifice. Hands holding the heart of God . . . hands holding the heart of man . . . escaping the bonds of Earth through surrender.
Surrender . . .
Surrounded by a hostile world
Demanding that we change and conform
Our defence? . . . We surrender!
Surrender our fists, clenched in anger
In exchange for open hands of trust
Surrender our hostilities and aggression
In exchange for a loving embrace
Surrender our weapons
In exchange for the tools of harvest
Surrender our prejudice of colour
In exchange for a circle of sisters and brothers
Surrender our misguided will
In exchange for the will of our Creator
We surrender to faith
We surrender to prayer
We surrender to God
We surrender . . .
2004 © kjh
Week 6: Perseverance: Finishing Well
A Life Well-Lived
The end of the sermon series and the end of our Earthly journey. The end, yet just the beginning. An ending and a beginning marked by celebration . . . celebration for a life well-lived. A life steeped in the Trinity . . . Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
A Life Well-Lived
I heard the words, describing the departed soul
"Hers was a life well-lived"
My heart jumped
Is this what they will say about us, when our season ends?
What is a life well-lived?
Where do we find it?
What does it look like?
Is a life well-lived a long life, or can it last only minutes?
Is a life well-lived one of sacrifice or does it focus on oneself?
A life well-lived . . .
. . . a life of deeply loving all others
. . . a life of forgiveness and healing
. . . a life of quieting our spirit
. . . a life of teaching enduring lessons
. . . a life given away . . . not thrown away
. . . and in giving away, the lessons carry on
. . . and as the lessons carry on, so do our lives . . . lives well-lived
2004 © kjh
