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December 17 I went back to see the woodcut of the Red Dragon this afternoon. As I looked at it, my imagination went to work. I thought first of Pharaoh, the dragon-like character of Exodus who sought to destroy God’s children and kill their hope of the Promised Land. And then there was King Herod — a king so jealous and hell-bent that he murdered little children in attempt to destroy Christmas for us all. Of course, the Bible isn’t the only place where we can read about evil leaders. Even today, the world is still reaping the bitter fruits caused by evil leaders such as Stalin, Hitler, Milosevic, and Hussein to name a few. As I left the picture behind, it almost seemed like a cloud was hovering over me. The Red Dragon ... .he’s not merely some mythological figure or fun part of culture, all dressed up with horns and a red tail. He’s anti-Christ, evil, and the one behind all the wicked forces of despair and death in the cosmos. That’s what I think John was trying to get across in this 2nd picture from Revelation. My reaction to such an image was, first of all, to want to throw it down, to burn it up. But as I began to make my way home, and considered the dragon’s evil ways in the world (and in my life), I was led to pray, once again, the simple words of Jesus: “deliver us from the Evil One.” As I began to pray those words over and over again — quickly at first, then contemplatively, one word at a time — I slowly experienced a deep, abiding stillness in my soul. Though I was still feeling ‘the fog in Prague,’ weariness in my body and spirit, I did sense an indescribable peace that passed my understanding. Thank you, Lord. |
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