a confluence in Geneva
one is the River Rhone
the other, the River Arve
both emanate from glaciers
both pick up different things as they flow
different land, different elements, different color
and they meet and mix
somewhere there … in the middle
confluence
there was once only one seeker of God Most High – Abraham
and there was only one priest of God Most High – Melchizedek
each flowing, picking up different things, never connecting
until, one day the only seeker flows by the only priest
confluence awaits
the seeker is having a typical day
business activity
a problem child
oh … and a war
following a voice from heaven
following the light to his darkness
following the answers to his questions
never once does he consider that his conclusive answers lie in Jerusalem
and there is someone in Jerusalem who needs a confluence for himself
so he’s about ready to pass by Jerusalem … again
but this time…
the inspiration he seeks as hard as an artist in search of the exact. perfect. blue
flows down the hillside so that the two can meet, and mingle, and share
somewhere there … in the middle
the priest of this God nobody appeared to know about, “El–Elyon” – God Most High
streams down from the hillside, bestowing bread and wine, and receiving a tithe from Abraham
a confluence below Jerusalem
momentous. moment.
one man has a practical, personal, on the ground understanding of the only God
the other has theological knowledge – a religious, mountain top kind of learning
the conversations they must have had
each filling in the various vacancies
of the other one’s perception of God
but…
years before this meeting gets a chance to unfold
Abraham must leave family, career, his native country
and maybe he’s like a fledgling bird at the edge of the nest
a bit scared
and oh so curious
but not quite ready
and maybe he needs one last push, a promise that he isn’t leaving it all for nothing
maybe that’s when God provides the final nudge
with words recorded in the Greek of the Septuagint
(with pronunciation below, and a literal translation)
(and the Greek version of Mary’s “magnificat” in bold print)
καὶ ποιήσω σε εἰς ἔθνος μέγα
Ki poyeso-se ayees ethnos mega
and I will make you into [a] nation, great
καὶ εὐλογήσω σε
ki youlogaysow-se
and I will bless you
καὶ μεγαλυνῶ τὸ ὄνομά σου
ki megaluno tow onoma-sue
and will magnify the name of you
καὶ ἔσῃ εὐλογητός
ki esay youlogaytos
and you will be blessed
it’s Genesis 12:2
the first use of Mary’s word, magnificat, in the Scriptures
it’s only “magnificat” in the Latin (man-yee-fee-cot)
in the Greek it’s “μεγαλύνω” (megaluno)
now to unwrap this pretty present…
The Picture Perfect Artwork:
the confluence
the colors
the fledgling
