Luke Pearson

Dear Friends,

 In the book “Selected Literary Essays” by C.S. Lewis, the Christian theologian wrote a poem about having a discussion on the existence of dragons with his good friend J.R.R Tolkien:

 We were talking of DRAGONS, Tolkien and I 

In a Berkshire bar. The big workman 

Who had sat silent and sucked his pipe 

All the evening, from his empty mug 

With gleaming eye glanced towards us;

‘I seen ‘em myself', he said fiercely.

 Both Tolkien and Lewis stated that this encounter with the workman was fictional, and the poem was written to demonstrate how to properly use the alliterative meter in poetry. In regards to the origins of the story, Tolkien provided the following quotation: “I remember Jack (C.S.L.) telling me a story of Brightman, the distinguished ecclesiastic scholar, who used to sit quietly in Common Room saying nothing except on rare occasions. Jack said that there was a discussion on dragons one night and at the end Brightman’s voice was heard to say ‘I have seen a dragon.’ Silence. 'Where was that?’ He was asked. ‘On the Mount of Olives’ he said. He relapsed into silence and never before his death explained what he meant.”

 With both the Old Testament and the Gospel in the Daily Office readings for today, God invites us to shift our gaze from our own daily agenda to being witness to the wonders and magnificence of his works. In the Book of Jeremiah, God comes to Jeremiah and simply asks the Prophet, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” Jeremiah does not remain silent and tells God that he sees a branch of an almond tree. Therefore, the Lord commends Jeremiah for his answer by stating, “ You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.” In the Gospel According to John the disciples are astonished that they witness Jesus speaking with a woman. However, it is that same woman who invites the people of the city to come and see the Savior of the world. She has seen well through Christ, and with a joyful spirit, she encourages the city to engage with Jesus through sight and sound.

 Now is the moment, as people of faith, to open our hearts, ears and gleaming eyes to the magnificence of God’s presence throughout our lives. God makes himself known to us in both subtle and marvelous ways; from the simplicity of an almond tree branch to hearing the proclamation of seeing a dragon residing on the Mount of Olives. Therefore, we must be evangelical in proclaiming the Gospel, in order to shift the attention of others towards Jesus and God’s eternal grace. Will we as the body of Christ have the curiosity to seek out the dragons of our faith? And when we find them, will we have the courage to speak up and say to others fiercely “I have seen 'em myself.”?  

 Blessings,

 Luke Pearson
Beloved in the Desert