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Jay Kollar's avatar

Wow Ross. That is a tall order but if anyone’s words can inspire it would be yours brother. Thank you for the gift of perspective going into Good Friday. I plan to pray about it further and share with my family. Thank you. 🙏🏼

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Ross Byrd's avatar

Thank you, Jay. God bless you.

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Ethan Caughey's avatar

Recently, I decided to test out a theory of creative, Spirit-driven abundance by attempting to leave YouTube comments on year-old videos as if I was writing for all to see rather than hoarding the idea for later.

Anyways, your post reminds me of a comment I left somewhere lost to the algorithm where I came to the realization that following Jesus meant I would end up experiencing more death, not less—and of course you need death for resurrection—which I guess means that I’m arguing for ‘Fractal Resurrection’—and that’s a good title for a post that I’ll probably never write.

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Ross Byrd's avatar

Ha I like that experiment. More death, not less, is exactly right. And therefore more resurrection. I love “Fractal Resurrection.” Watch out, I might steal that.

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Andrew Renwick's avatar

❤️🔥🌊

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Ross Byrd's avatar

Thanks Andrew. Let’s talk soon!

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Andrew Renwick's avatar

Definitely! What’s the best way to connect?

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Mark Casper's avatar

Read that same poem in Guite’s Lent and Easter collection. A wonderful meditation on Good Friday

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Ross Byrd's avatar

Oh no way. I haven’t seen that collection. I will search for it now.

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Mark Casper's avatar

It’s called ‘The Word in the Wilderness’!

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Ross Byrd's avatar

Thanks!

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William Sumner's avatar

Beautiful. I like the prison and tiger image. That was cool.

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Ross Byrd's avatar

Thanks man. I almost cut that, and Hannah told me to keep.

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Richard Jordan's avatar

Also - if Rembrandt's "Descent from the Cross" is the most captivating painting you've seen in person, you must also have seen his "Return of the Prodigal Son." Out of curiosity, why did the one captivate you even more than the other?

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Ross Byrd's avatar

Good question. I did not see Return of the Prodigal, sadly. This was in DC a couple of years ago. I just checked and it looks as though I might have seen a “workshop version” of Descent, which is not identical to the one I posted here, which is apparently in St Petersburg. And I’m not sure why it grabbed me among all the other pieces I saw that day, but I couldn’t peel myself away from it. .

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Richard Jordan's avatar

A beautiful meditation. Thank you.

Edwin Muir is always rewarding. Another appropriate poem:

The heart could never speak

But that the Word was spoken.

We hear the heart break

Here with hearts unbroken.

Time, teach us the art

That breaks and heals the heart.

Heart, you would be dumb

But that your word was said

In time, and the echoes come

Thronging from the dead.

Time, teach us the art

That resurrects the heart.

Tongue, you can only say

Syllables, joy and pain,

Till time, having its way,

Makes the word live again.

Time, merciful lord,

grant us to learn your word.

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Ross Byrd's avatar

Oh my. This is wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing.

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Michelle Garner's avatar

Such a poignant, daunting, and powerfully beautiful reflection. Thank you for writing and for sharing Ross.

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