(*just begun and so not fully developed; imperfectly formed.)

"...The surgeon is... a grim man,

impatient with unlabeled brands of inchoate* faith.

In his view, a man should know his craft,

so that a smith should know his forge,

a farmer his plow, and a chaplain his creed.

He has made plain his disregard for me and my ministry.

The first time I preached to the company,

he observed that in his view a sermon that did not dwell on damnation

was scant service to men daily facing death,

and that if he wanted to hear a love poem

he would apply to his wife."

-from March, by Geraldine Brooks;

a book based on the unknown life at war of the father character from my beloved Little Women.

I found this description(-through-counterexample, I suppose)

of faith

provocative and resonant.

Inchoate faith...

faith that is not fully developed, still imperfectly formed.

Doesn't sound so terrible to me.

Lots of room for mystery and grace?

.perhaps we know a dozen, maybe two.

"God does ten thousand things

in every deed.

Perhaps we know a dozen,

maybe two.

But not enough to judge before He's through."

-John Piper

i have mixed feelings about John Piper,

but ever since i first heard this quote,

i've loved it and seen the truth in it.

lately it has been echoing in my head and heart more true every day;

all the crazy ways things have been woven

that i never could have imagined,

making me laugh and marvel and repent and give thanks.