“He is mindful that we are but dust.” Yet, He is making us in His Image. He is making us a Royal Priesthood, and a Helpmate for His only Son. What is this alchemy that God is up to? Do I really believe that He will do what He has promised?

Moses had doubts. At the burning bush he asked again and again, “Are you sure you have the right guy?”

“With God all things are possible!”

In both these posts titled Alchemy, I’ve used a picture of butterflies in their chrysalis. It’s fascinating that a little wooly caterpillar can climb inside that cocoon, and emerge as a delicate and beautiful butterfly. What is going on in there? Every organ and tissue seems moved and transformed! How painful is that?! What keeps the caterpillar still and on the table through this mad science?

In Genesis 2 we see God perform surgery on Adam. As a child I was taught that God removed a rib, but I have since learned that the language in Hebrew is more like God divided him in two. Then God fashions of the part removed a woman, and brings the two back together. “Bone of my bone. Flesh of my flesh.”

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.”

I believe that God is doing this with each one of us. He has already caused the sleep of death to fall on His Son, Jesus, He has already taken part of Him in His hands and is working it into us. Each of us is in the midst of this Grand Alchemy. Everything we know or think we know is being moved, transformed. Until we are beautiful and ready to emerge and be given to the one from Whom we come, and belong.

This process is dark and painful, but I wait for You Lord! I put myself in stillness upon Your table. Make of me what You will!