Crushed For a Season [New Poem]
Background
In this poem I connect the image of winemaking with that of suffering, grief, and growth. The winepress is a symbol both of judgment and discipline as well as celebratory rejoicing. Wine resembles and signifies blood, but it is also a sign of the coming kingdom of God.
Suffering and death precede resurrection. A grain of wheat can only bear fruit if it dies. God disciplines us as sons and daughters, though it is never pleasing at the time. We wrestle with spiritual forces of evil, and yet one day all the sad things will be made untrue and there will be a banquet of new wine and feasting.
Along with these biblical themes, I had these two passages from Paul’s epistles in mind:
that I may know [Jesus] and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:10-11
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church…
Colossians 1:24
Crushed For a Season
Crushed for a season Fruit freshly gathered Churning, burst squeezing Mayhem’s sloshing lather Can chaos contain Any meaning sweet? And ferment’s decay Grow, give, make complete? Where nothing happens And all seems forgot Could one imagine A lesson be taught? Might a yeasting stink Yield a better thing? Lush, gushing and pink Rich pleasure bringing? Only when He treads Winepress of delight Wounds that flow and spread Succor, glory bright Taste and see He’s good Spirited drink best With us bleeding, could Mingle, mature, bless
Moment-By-Moment 