A note before we begin: today’s artwork depicts the severed head of John the Baptist, whose beheading is the focus of today’s Scripture reading (Matthew 14:1–12). Today we’re trying something new in Christ-in-Kundalini: ekphrastic writing, or writing in conversation with a work of art. Begin by looking at Aelbert Bouts’s "Head of Saint John the Baptist on a Charger." Painted around 1500, the round panel resembles the platter on which John’s head was carried. The rest of the story has disappeared—the prison, the banquet, the executioner, the disciples who came for his body. We’re left with the part of John his killers demanded. But beheading isn’t relegated to ancient times. We metaphorically behead people today, striking at the source of identity. We can say we are not our heads, we are not our bodies, we are not the roles we play—we are bodies of light and love. And yet, we are not. Not when we strike out of revenge, bitterness, or fear. Not when we steal away someone’s joy out of jealousy or our own suffering, striking at their sense of wholeness in an attempt to ease something within ourselves. Yoga Sutra II.30 places "ahiṃsā," non-harming, beside "satya," truthfulness. John’s body is divided, but the truth he spoke survives the attempt to silence him. His voice remains. And those esponsible for his death may remain physically intact, but are really are divided from love. What do you think? WRITE: Spend a few minutes looking at the painting before you begin. Describe the shape, color, light, texture, and expression without explaining what they mean. Allow yourself to write from stream of consciousness. Not judging what you write or the process. What has this frame cut away from the story? What has this frame cut away from the whole of you? Where are you being asked to restore wholeness—to yourself or to someone you’ve reduced to a single story? Let me know how you did with this one. Love, Jackie Here's a link to more information on the painting: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435759

Today is Day 36 of my 40-day Sadhana with Sat Krya (you can read about it in my early post: “Get on your knees, Jackie!”). After the krya and after prayer and contemplative meditation, sometimes I’ll sit for a few more moments in silence or with music. This morning, these lyrics from my playlist stayed with me: "Root down deep Spread your wings out wide Trust in life Seek and you will rise" In Scripture, we read, “Seek and you will find.” When the disciples ask Jesus why he speaks in parables, he tells them about the mysteries held within the teachings. A parable doesn’t explain itself. It doesn’t just pass down wisdom. The listener/seeker has to investigate it from exactly where they are—and exactly where you are changes every time you look. I like the “rise.” Not as a replacement for “find,” but as a direct sensation. I don’t have to explain what I have found. I can give my mind a rest, and hear the wisdom of my heart. Sometimes we don’t want to seek because we’re afraid of what we may find. We may even be afraid that we won’t be able to handle the wisdom God gives us. But when wisdom arises from active seeking—from an honest exploration of the little self and the Self united with God—it moves us. We rise and become joyfully free. “Seek and you will rise.” And so, I let the song become a practice. Here it is: - Come to the ground in Easy Pose. Sit on a pillow if needed to lift your hips and lengthen your spine. Feel yourself rooting into the earth. - Spread your arms wide in the shape of a cross, palms facing up. Stay here for as long as you can. - When you can’t hold your arms out any longer, cross them over your heart and bring your hands to your shoulders, with the thumb and index finger touching in Gyan Mudra. There’s a bridge about midway through the song. That’s where I crossed my arms and let the lyrics move in and around me. Toward the end, the song moves into the yogic prayer: Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu “May all beings everywhere be happy and free.”

Dear brother and sister in Jesus Christ *I have wonderful news to share with you today!* I went to serve God at the brick kiln, and *many people believed in Jesus Christ*. They accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. *Praise God!* *But these new brothers and sisters don’t have Bibles.* They are like newborns — hungry for the Word, but with no spiritual food in their hands. *I want us to place the Holy Bible in their hands.* *Because the Bible is their daily bread.* It will teach them God’s promises, strengthen their weak faith, and help them stand firm in trials. _“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”_ — *Psalm 119:105* _“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”_ — *Romans 10:17* 📖 *Will you join me in this great work?* Together, we can give these new believers the Word of God so they grow strong in the Lord. *Every Bible is a seed that will bear fruit for eternity.* *To God alone be the glory. Amen

*Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, dear brother* 🙏 *By the grace and mercy of God, many people in Pakistan are believing in Jesus Christ today*. They have *accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior*. *Praise be to the holy name of God* ✨ Dear brother, I have seen with my own eyes how *these families who work hard at the brick kilns are in difficulties*. Despite working hard day and night, *they have no source of clean water*. *In the 45-degree heat, children, mothers and sisters are forced to drink dirty water*. Due to which *many children and women have become sick*. _John 7:37_ — *"If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink"* Jesus takes care of not only spiritual thirst, but also our physical needs. That is why I have a desire in my heart that *we should work together to install hand pumps among these new believing families*. So that: 1. *their children will have clean water* 2. *they will be protected from diseases* 3. *and we can show them the love of Jesus through our love* Dear brother, *I thank you from the bottom of my heart*. *You have expressed your desire to help in this service*. *May God accept your generosity and bless you a hundredfold*. _Proverbs 11:25_ — *"A generous soul will be made fat"* Let us all pray together that *God will provide clean water for the kilns of Pakistan*. And that *the gospel will reach many souls through this service*. *May God bless you and your family abundantly. Amen* 🙏❤️