Long Division

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. ⏤ Romans 16:17

Doing calculations is hard—especially division. Keeping track of who I should love and who I can dismiss is too tiring. When Jesus was asked, "Who is my neighbor?" he told a story about a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan. No points were awarded to the priest and Levite for working the wrong problems.

Puddling Up

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. — Revelation 22:1-2

As some lose vision of our Christ and his kingdom, this beautiful river may become ponds, then puddles. Not forever.

Time Away

I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem... — Galatians 1:17-18

Between the stories, there were pauses. Extensive pauses. Moses fled to Midian for 40 years. Then went to Mt. Sinai for 40 days to be with God. Moses and Israel wandered 40 years in the wilderness. Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert. Paul spent three years in Arabia and Damascus. Then, there were the Desert Fathers and others over many centuries.