Kneel… Like A Dervish

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May 19, 1979
5:35 AM

Kneeling is the position of penitence, acknowledging of the need for forgiveness and help. Our world disdains this position, seeing it as one of subservience… a lack of self assuredness and self-capacity. And it’s true. In kneeling you reduce your height, rest your weight on unaccustomed appendages, and feel rather awkward and uncomfortable. To stand seems better.

But to kneel is to present yourself ready for judgment… before the Throne. Kneeling is the giving up of full self… in order to be filled. Kneeling is being ready for Another to act. In kneeling you cannot demand; instead you wait.

But fulfillment comes (usually). The spirit dances, for now the kneeling is past and opportunities for the living out of the fulfilling appear. Full stature and comfortable. Filled with the Holy Spirit. No more need for kneeling…?

Just as the Spirit is constant, so He ebbs and flows. It will be time to kneel again. The dervish has waned, and strength of purpose is not. Instead of pulling yourself up and “conjuring” the strength from… where? … you go down. Down to Sheol. Down in size. Down in comfort. Down in self. And you wait.

There is a time for everything… under heaven. There is a time to kneel down, and a time to rise up. There is a time to be strong, and a time to be penitent. There is a time to dance, and a time to kneel quietly.

Each is part of a whole, part of the rhythm of life. To deny the rhythm is to spoil the dance. Be strong when you are strong, o man, and kneel when you are not. Feel the rhythm. Know the need for rhythm. Be not ashamed of your needs for new strength. For to kneel is, also, to be. We are, also, when we are weak and needy.

From kneeling we shall mount up with wings as eagles, we shall run and not be weary. But finally we will but walk. And then is the time for kneeling. Not just in order to mount up again, but to BE in the rhythm of the Spirit.

A new day is here. Hallelujah!

Amen
6:17 AM

(This is the ninth missive penned by Bob Russell after he “cut his deal” with God that he would dedicate the first hour of his day to a “writing meditation” for the next 30 days.
This missive was penned and written only by Bob Russell)