That is the Question

This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ ⏤ Jeremiah 6:16

I'm at the crossing. Which is the good way? Do I have time to stand still, study the terrain, ask, and wait for an answer? Suppose I actually do all of that, then say, Nah, I'll go the other way.

The Way

Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida. Nadie puede llegar hasta el Padre si no es por mí. — Juan 14:6

I can get too familiar with familiar language. For a long time, I read this verse, in English, as: if I follow the ways of Jesus, I can be admitted into the Father's presence. That sounds like earning. Reading this in Spanish, and hearing Jesus say, "I am the road...," hit me differently. The focus is on Jesus' work, not my works. This is reconciliation.

Charity and Charis

Two nouns that look like they must come from the same word root. And they don't. Charity comes from the Latin word caritas; it's an English word for agape love. Charis is Greek for grace. Grace means gift, and agape love is the gift of self. The two words may not share the same etymology, but they do share the same Source!