Photo by Travis Simon

By Emi Iwanaga

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. –Luke 2:7

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne…And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God. –Revelation 5:6-7,16

My Glorious Gender

The balance.
His presence now and to come.
Beauty of Christmas celebrated; His touches–loving, personal, perfect…
Intensity of End of Ages proclaimed; His revelation–awesome, overpowering, just.
Lit candles in a decked room–tree trimmed, memories of the house full of relatives enjoyed…
End of year reading Revelation of the seven scroll–famine, death, antichrist, the Lamb with seven horns and multitude of eyes takes and opens.

The balance.
Enjoyment of Him in the present; living life in Him no matter what the day brings…
Awareness of Him in the end; giving praise and honor and glory to the Mighty.
That glory the shepherds experienced in the field…
That glory which will be experienced in the end of ages;
may both resonate by faith in my heart giving blessed, sacred, truthful balance to my day.

The balance.
The Jesus of today, the God of the end.
The yin, the yan.
Live, thrive, no strife, harmony.

The balance?
Submit.
Let Him live out the yin and yan through me.
No struggle, no strife. Harmony.
Submit.
Not to the yan gender; but to my Maker, the Potter.
To His majesty, to His power; to He in me.
Surrender and all His glory will radiate through my glorious gender.
No struggle, no strife. Harmony.

And the angels and all beings said amen and amen, falling down on their knees…on their faces.

Emi Iwanaga served thirteen years as a missionary in Amazon Valley in Brazil, over 20+ years as a children’s ministry director, women’s ministry director, and pastor’s wife, and is currently a spiritual director.