The snowbird has returned to resume this blog after a six-month hiatus. This entry is inspired by a friend in Singapore who writes Scriptural devotions based on Chinese puns.

Temple—we are one temple together, and we are each a temple on our own. A temple to whom? Of whom? We are created to worship. People enter temples to seek and worship gods. When people enter into our lives, which god that we have made room for to dwell within to worship will they find ?

Applications of these verses have emphasized on keeping our lives sacred—to be holy in conduct and to be separated from communion with unbelievers. Yet we are ambassadors and a light to point others to Jesus. Can we embrace the discomfort of letting others enter into our temple, to see who we worship and that even in our imperfect, sin-filled brokenness, Christ is within ? We are one temple together called the Church. But how can we experience the beauty of Christ’s grace in community if we refuse to be vulnerable in communion, baring our naked shame? What would communion look like with un-Christianly so-called Christians or with “unbelievers” who would never call themselves Christians, yet have all the marks of grace with inner joy and self-sacrificial humility? How will we dance together?

Tempo—is the pace of a piece of music, commonly marked by beats per minute, like our pulse. With whom does our heart beat? Tempo is so much more than speed. Words that reflect rhythm and mood such as grave or vivace are used in music notations. Each musician may play the same piece with a slightly different speed or with personal variance, as in tempo rubato. Tempo can change in time from accelerando (speed up) to ritardando (slow down) before a tempo (return to base tempo.)

Duets requires a common sense of flow with our partner. Keeping the same tempo of the music requires listening and practice. Our lives alongside the Spirit may accelerate or slow down, our hearts may at times be bleating lamentoso (sadly, plaintively) con grazia (with grace) or a piacere (at pleasure.) We also mustn't forget the rest notes of course; they are an integral part to keep in tempo. Play and walk in step with the Spirit and sing His songs in His time and timing—in His tempo in our temple.