Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
whosoever will
find a point of pain
listening it into revelation
is a friend of minewhen hope slips away
those who notice
who raise alarm
are friend and allywhen faith contracts
creatives not successers
demonstrate needed trust
to cross friendship limitswhen love dims
the slightest steadfastness
anchors rebuilding
friend to Friendwhosoever will
sets a wider welcome
that mysterious others might become
mutual friends
G*D’s desire is notoriously difficult to discern.
Additionally, there is the difficulty of forgiveness. Do we remain a certified partner or beloved of G*D regardless of whether we correctly discern and follow that desire with appropriate action?
Is there a universalness to our relationship that arches over and under any particular moment of agreement with or challenge to a desire? Where does bargaining fit in to the will of one partner or is this just a hierarchy playing at mutual identity reflective of interactive imagery?
These questions are important because of the tendency for such seemingly egalitarian sentiments to fall back into colonial tyranny exemplified by Rome and Temple. Later Christian history and attempted control of heavenly rewards will show this danger as real.
Mark tends to show Jesus as absolute authority of G*D’s “will” and authority is but a generation away from authoritarianism. Believers are infantilized to only go as far as the latest creed can travel. There is still insider and outsider language going on, just different insiders who argue over their place and look to some form of retributive justice they can use to their advantage. In a “second-coming”, power is held to judge who followed orders better and to wipe out those below a certain score. [Condensed from: Abraham Smith, “Cultural Studies: Making Mark” in Mark and Method, pp.203–207]
When hearing someone appeal to the “will of God”, it is wise to place finger-tips together, bow, say “True”, and continue beloving.