Barbed Wire or Robe

Yesterday I was feeling a bit unsettled as I prepared to go to church. As the days pass and I am enjoying the freedom of prayer, worship, fellowship and ministry on the land, it is harder to change gears and prepare my heart for 'church' each Sunday. So, I went for a walk on the land, seeking the Father, before going into town for church.

Yesterday, I went for a walk to 'Sge Nanahi' to seek the Father and pray about this anxiousness of spirit before going to church. I had found some barbed wire that was in the grass. It was along the eastern border of our property. I had been praying that the Father would show me how to pray as I address the four directions, proclaiming to all created things and all things that have breath and all that dwell in the spiritual realm to the east that this land belongs to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost and that I belong to the Father Son and Holy Ghost, also thanking God for creation and life that begins in the east, as well as the new day. I wanted the Lord to show me how to pray in a manner that would welcome all good things into the land, but keeping out all that was not of God. A continual prayer of asking the Father to lead me into relationship with Him and out of the familiarity of the religious practices, although Christian, that in hindsight can be narrow and oppressive. Yet, at the same time asking the Father to give me a heart to move back and forth in both worlds so that there is peace in attending Sunday worship services at church, as well as peace in worshipping on the land in a way of honoring my ancestors.

I picked up the barbed wire so that no one would get entangled in it. It is left over from the old fence that is practically dissolved over time. Yet, there is a portion of a post and some more barbed wire I could not pull up out of the ground. The Spirit spoke to me and said that this is like a relationship between two people, two nations or two neighbors. When the fence is new, it is a very clear and sturdy boundary. It may even be a wall, depending on the motivation of the people - keeping people out or protecting what is within. In the negative context of a 'wall' separating and dividing relationships, it is very noticeable and present. However, through time and many seasons, if neglected ( no longer of importance or necessary) it begins to fade away until now there seems to be no fence or wall left. It is as if time had healed and removed the barrier. In our case, there is just a small ridge in the field where the grass has grown up over the remains of the fence.

However, this gentle, small ridge on the property line that is slightly visible to someone 'looking for it' is deceptive and is actually dangerous. You see, the barbed wire, old, rusted and dark in color now blends with the ground. It is hidden and intertwined with the grass. It can cut and poison someone's blood without warning. It would have been better for someone to pull up the new fence posts, removing the shiny new barbed wire, (The persons actions being very active, aggressive, visible and determined in taking down the wall), than to wait for time to slowly cause the division to fade away with little or no effort of the people.

It reminds me of the non-Native, mainstream, contemporary Body of Christ, that as a whole and in general, thinks that the walls between the non-Native and Native have all faded away through time. Yet the truth is that the barbed wire is still there right under the surface and it is more dangerous and poisonous now. Many will look forward, not watching their steps, as if turning their backs or closing their eyes, to step over the unseen wire. But there needs to be someone who will get a shovel and dig it all up. Who will do it? The owner of the barbed wire? Their great great grandchildren or the neighbors - maybe the neighbors great great grandchildren - or maybe the new owners of the land. Yet, I can only remove what is under the soil on my side of the boundary line. I do not have the authority to dig up what is on their side of the boundary. Who will tell them? Will they listen?

As I continued praying and walking, I saw a piece of fabric sticking up out of the ground. It had been there a very long time and was exposed when the farmer recently cut the field for hay. I pulled on the fabric thinking it was a small scrap. It was bigger than that. I thought maybe it was the size of a scarf or handkerchief . I pulled some more .... From under the grass and soil, I pulled up what I thought was a small coat or jacket. It was old and dirty and had become part of the soil, and much grass was growing from it. I looked it over and it was machine sewed, but hand-made. It was inside outwards, so I began to pull to bring the right-side out. I was amazed to find that it was a complete robe. It was burgundy/ dark red and it resembled a 'house coat' or 'bath robe' that was full-length with a zipper up the front. Only the edges of the collar and the cuffs of the sleeves seemed to be tattered and torn.

I knew that the Lord wanted to speak to me about this, as He had already been speaking to me volumes before I came upon this cloth. However, I did not receive any revelation. Just a great awareness of His presence. It was very peculiar.

I went to church, still pondering the dark red robe that was brought forth from under the soil at our north eastern border of the property. Our pastor continued with a series on "Christ building His Church". The emphasis that Christ is doing all the building of His Body of Christ and that it isn't man building buildings, but Christ building up people. I have personally found this series to be both encouraging and frustrating. Yes, it must be Christ building His 'Church', yet it doesn't have to be limited to expression thru contemporary meetings, programs, gatherings, etc. There are some in our fellowship and around the country that can not see that Christ is 'building up' His 'church' right here on the land and in our gathering, as well.

Pastor began his message with Isaiah 61:10-11. Which says: " I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations." (NIV)

I was in awe. Here was Scripture that seemed to sum up what I had just experienced at 'Sge Nanahi' in a very literal sense. Not only that, but our pastor shared the vision for the coming year by placing an outline on the overhead projector, which was the same as what we are already doing in our gathering. What a confirmation.

At the end of the service I shared with the congregation about the robe I found in the soil of the field. I still did not have any great lengthy revelation from the Lord, but no one could call this experience a mere coincidence. What the Lord showed me was that He gave a 'word' for the body for Sunday. He used my pastor, who was ministered to by the Scripture over the weekend and then was moved to share with the congregation in the contemporary fashion of a Sunday worship service. He also used me and the prayer time at 'Sge Nanahi' as I was moved by the Spirit to literally pull the robe out of the field, which was edifying to the gathering that is dedicated to Christ, yet that honors my ancestors. It was as if His message was that both types of gatherings are pleasing to Him and they accomplish His will. One is not better than the other, and they can work together.

As I was leaving church, one person said that they were glad I had shared, and that the Lord spoke to her about us, saying that she believes the Lord says we are covered with His robe of righteousness. Then our pastor shared his desire to find a place out of doors, like he used to have in another town, where he can be still and hear from God.

I hope this experience has been an encouragement for you. I will end with some information that I am still pondering and seeking the Lord in regards to a robe being pulled up out of the soil on our boundary line on the land. This is about the place of a robe (mantel, tunic) with the OT culture. It is also very interesting and encouraging as we look towards our Native culture and our ancestors' clothing and adornment.

Mantle. This item of clothing was the distinctive Hebrew outer garment, made of two pieces of thick woolen material sewn together, with slits rather than sleeves for the arms. In Old Testament times the mantle was usually brightly colored. Joseph's "tunic of many colors" was probably a mantle of woven, bright strips. The Lord commanded the people of Israel to add blue tassels to the corners of their outer garments, as reminders to obey His commandments . This custom degenerated into a mere outward show of piety, and it was condemned by Jesus . The typical Hebrew slept on the floor with his mantle used as a covering to keep him warm. This was especially true for travelers, shepherds, or poor people, so a person's mantle was not to be kept as collateral for a loan . In times of anguish, the Hebrews often tore their mantles to show their distress .

A handy, one-piece garment, the mantle protected a person from the weather. Because it fitted loosely, it could also be used to conceal or carry items. The typical Jewish mantle hung below the knees and was decorated with fringe.