Lions, Lambs, and Puppy Dogs
It was great to see a larger than usual Don's crowd last night.
We talked about lions lying down with lambs* and what it has to do with safe spaces. We talked about why domesticated dogs and cats are pretty chilled out animals (hint: *they're descended from predators*). So maybe it's relatively easy for a fierce wolf to become a sweet dog (because somewhere inside the dog she still thinks she's a wolf). But for a sheep or a lamb there's a lot more risk involved than there is for a lion. We've been talking about Place a lot lately at AfterHours and we'll continue the conversation next week when we talk Brave Spaces, and a potentially more beautiful vision than the one we find in Isaiah:
Untitled Poem by Beth Strano
There is no such thing as a “safe space” —
We exist in the real world.
We all carry scars and have caused wounds.
This space
seeks to turn down the volume of the world outside,
and amplify voices that have to fight to be heard elsewhere,
This space will not be perfect.
It will not always be what we wish it to be
But
It will be our space together,
and we will work on it side by side.
If you want a primer on Brave Spaces, check out this episode of On Being, it's well worth your time: https://onbeing.org/programs/jennifer-bailey-and-lennon-flowers-an-invitation-to-brave-space/
*Isaiah 11:6-10
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
and the leopard will lie down with the young goat;
the calf and the young lion will feed together,
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow and the bear will graze.
Their young will lie down together,
and a lion will eat straw like an ox.
8 A nursing child will play over the snake’s hole;
toddlers will reach right over the serpent’s den.
9 They won’t harm or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain.
The earth will surely be filled with the knowledge of the Lord,
just as the water covers the sea.
10 On that day, the root of Jesse will stand as a signal to the peoples. The nations will seek him out, and his dwelling will be glorious.
