Learning by Paradox...

My mother in law, Pat, gave me a book on Puritan prayers and devotions. It’s called, “The Valley of Vision” (ed. Arthur Bennett. Banner of Truth Pub).

It starts this way…

LORD, HIGH AND HOLY, MEEK AND LOWLY,

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime starts can be seen from deepest wells,
And the deeper the wells the brighter the stars shine;

Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty
thy glory in my valley.

- - -
Triune God, shape me by paradox today…