Ken’s “POETIC POSTLUDE” shares Bible EXAMPLES of Life’s forever NEWNESS in NOWNESS!
Saturday, July 16th, 2022
By Ken Cooper, poet from Great Britain
Ken Cooper’s “POETIC POSTLUDE” shares Bible EXAMPLES of Life’s forever NEWNESS in NOWNESS!
inspired by The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“Life”
for July 17, 2022
- Ken’s poem in the CS Journal, “I AM THAT I AM”. expresses the nowness of ever newness of Life.
- Ken’s poem “Ever Truth’s River”, shows how it’s self-pity really binding the bent-over woman.
- Ken’s poem “Jairus’ Daughter” shows how fear is conditioned by the past & leads to false outlooks.
- Ken’s Christian Science Journal poem “What Matters Now” is based on Revelation 21:1-5 (cit. B20)
Ken writes:] “The beautiful brevity of “Behold I make all things new” (GT & Revelation 21(cit. B20) reminds me of the words of God to Moses: “I AM THAT I AM”. (see my poem from the Christian Science Journal). They are indeed saying the same thing, for “I AM” refers to the present: it has no past. In these few words are the totality of Divine Science. Acceptance of these few words is the childlike acceptance of Truth, – the freedom that Truth gives and we experience. The freedom of no history. The complete verse from Revelation 21 reads; “And God, sitting on His eternal throne says, “Behold, whatever I make is always fresh and new, – it has no history, for everything is my constant reflection, as I think of them.” Jesus said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true, incorruptible, and stand for ever.”” (Revelation 21:5 Combined translations). My poem includes the words:
“The perfect balance of Life
and its reflection,
Principle and its idea:
“Perfect God and perfect man.”
We are the constant expression of “I AM”. OUR REFLECTION OF LIFE IS AS INSTANT AS GOD’S THOUGHT IS EXPRESSED. Nothing separates, can separate, God and His / Her expression. The Responsive Reading develops this theme:
“I am the one and only Lord. I am the only one who can save you. There is no other”
“Stop dwelling on history. Don’t keep repeating things that belong to the past. They can affect you no more.”
Pay attention! I am creating new heavens and a new earth. The painful past and all its bad memories will be as never happened. No one will talk or even think about it anymore. It will be gone. So take joy and celebrate for ever more in what I am creating. See! I am making Jerusalem, your home, a city of constant joy and happiness. I’m making all her citizens, you My people, happy and glad!
(Taken from Combined translations Isaiah 43:11,18; 65:17, 18)
This is the key message, that with God there is the joy of living in the NOW, for Life is absolutely perfect!! It cannot be fettered by false history, because in God’s ever-present kingdom there is no history. The story of Joseph shows just how important it is to loose the past, not bear grudges, to live in the present, and always with the guidance of God (see also section 6).
“I AM THAT I AM” IS CONSTANT FRESHNESS AND INFINITE PERFECTION, THE SOURCE OF OUR LIFE, OUR TOTAL BEING!
This is what Jesus saw all the time. When he said “I and my Father are one” it was a recognition of “I AM” fully expressed, not just with him, but for all. His knowledge of Life was also his demonstration of Love. This was well evidences in section 3, in which we have the healing of a woman bowed down low for eighteen long years. In my poem “Ever Truth’s River”, read by Sue, the self-pity is binding the woman as if with chains:
“I believed in God, but the years took their toll,
He’s left me to suffer; He’s leaving me ill.”
When we dwell on our history of illness, we turn away from the present reality of I AM, in which “BEHOLD I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW.”When this woman responded to the call of the Christ, which is always calling each one of us, it changed her outlook:
“A spiritual sensation floods my being,
A Love so pure it is quite beyond seeing.”
Love is fresh and now. What would be the point of Love if it was only historic, or of the future. That has never been the case. Love is always now. We can always feel its presence.
“I sense only Love and forget about me.
“Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.”
When we forget our mortal selves, we focus on love for others, love for God, and this brings release!
“He holds my hands firmly, looks deep in my eyes:
Beholding perfection, I now realise
God loves me as made me, this fact always see:
I am ever Truth’s (Life’s) river, running and free.”
One healing proves all healings. The touch of the Christ is available to everyone, it needs to be perceived, received and then conceived in demonstration and joy, – like a flowing river assured of its own progress and fulfilment.
Mrs Eddy defines “RIVER: Channel of thought”, and much like God holds in Mind the seed, bud and blossom at the same time of now, so the river of Life is at once the source, flow and destination, perfectly fulfilling every need every moment.
The poem “Jairus’ Daughter” again shows how fear is conditioned by the past and leads to false expectations. Fear is the belief that God is not infinite, while understanding is the knowledge that He is. Which river are we on, – the river of fear or of Love? The power of the Christ is to place us in the arms of Love. When Jairus first went to Jesus, he sought his help from the mortal basis of fear, that Jesus had to reach his home in a hurry. But Love was already there, and Jesus knew that man’s life was never challenged, always complete. When he reached for her hand, the maid simply got up as usual, – why shouldn’t she?? Any sense of history had been completely removed in the knowledge and the proof of present perfection. She arose as good as new.
“We’re both just astonished, for our daughter’s made whole!
Fear proved as just empty! Life is God’s Love and Soul!
Yes, we’d all been asleep! I see now there’s no death, –
In God the Almighty is all being and breath.”
The Golden Text was fulfilled. And in Revelation 21:1-7 we have a further confirmation of all things being made new (verses 3-5 are in the lesson, section 6). The full seven verses give this sense of newness brought to life:
| “And I looked around me in amazement, for everything was completely new, – the old heaven and earth, including the
sea, had quite vanished, replaced by the true creation. |
| And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, the eternal dwelling place of all believers, coming down out of heaven from
God. It was prepared like a bride adorned and beautifully dressed for her husband! |
| I heard a great voice from heaven itself: “Behold and realise! God’s home is here with His people. He will live with
them and they will be His treasure, always there for He is their very God. And this is for now! |
| Then I heard a mighty voice from heaven and I felt and perceived its distinct words, saying, See! The abode of God is
with men, and He will live among them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God for evermore. |
| With God in complete control there will no longer be any tears in your eyes, – no more death, suffering of any kind,
no crying, no more pain. All these things are past, gone for ever. |
| And God, sitting on his eternal throne said, “Behold, whatever I make is always fresh and new, – it has no history,
for everything is my constant reflection, as I think of them.” Jesus said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true, incorruptible, and stand for ever.” |
| And God said “It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, without beginning or end, the only living infinite ONE that you
can now see. I will give water to all who are thirsty and they will ever drink from My ever-flowing fountain of the free water of eternal life. |
| He that is victorious, and overcomes the world as was, shall inherit and possess My kingdom that is, (the spiritual
reality of all things), for God says “I am his God , and he is My son.” What more can we ask? |
My Christian Science Journal poem “What Matters Now” is based on these verses in Revelation 21:1-5, and take us full circle in the rejection of old tales to the recognition of what NEW, NOW, really means, – “I AM THAT I AM”
“What matters now is what you are—
You are what God is seeing.
Not someday, but a present fact:
You are what God is knowing—now.
The truth of your real being!”
WHEN WE ASK WHAT GOD IS KNOWING, THE ANSWER IS “YOU”, – EVER NEW!
[Ken:] Copies of my poems are available in pdf format in color and B&W as DOWNLOADS IN THE ONLINE VERSION OF THIS POETIC POSTLUDE to this week’s Bible Lesson. The full range of Ken’s videos on YouTube can be found on KenGCooperPoetry. All Ken’s poetry and other writings can be found on Ken Cooper Poetry.
A FREE copy of my combined translations is available on an excel spreadsheet for those who may be interested. They have been collated over several years from BibleGateway translations, taking the best from the many translations provided, and taking further inspiration from Christian Science in their compilation. They cover over a thousand key Bible verses, taken from both the BibleGateway verses for the day, and from the Weekly lessons. Reading all verses from any one book is insightful and motivating. The spreadsheet also includes a genealogy from Adam to Jesus as I have set out, with related notes. Shared with love.
Write to Ken on kengcooper@btinternet.com.
