If you believe, it’ll all start to make sense. I wasn’t going to post today, after all the “effort” (haha) I expended the last time, explaining why never to swallow your smile or wear a worrisome hat (you won’t, will you?) But here in the house tonight we had an inspirational experience that I felt the need to share.

Quick back story: when I was locked up in BCC (aka the ‘Backwards Correctional Center’), COVID forestalled regular worship services, so my Jamaican bunky (a Christian/Rasta like myself*) and I began a Sunday Bible read in our dorm. The format, enjoyed each week by 5 – 6 true believers, was simple: one man would open with an impromptu prayer, then we’d go around the circle and each read short, uplifting verses that related to our situations. Selections varied from relevant articles of our faith (repentance, forgiveness, compassion, etc.) to specific passages analogous to confinement, both literally and figuratively, drawing heavily from the epistles authored by then-imprisoned Paul and Peter.

Over time, the spirit in the room during these sessions became so strong that I began to refer to the dorm as a sort of ‘tabernacle.’ Plus, we knew our prayers were being heard, as readers were released with an almost uncanny regularity back to where they were needed most — to anxious families, waiting jobs and new opportunities. Can I get an Amen?

Fast-forward to my first night in the house and I wander downstairs to the big-screen TV room. Mere minutes after my arrival, several men walked into the ante-room and began arranging chairs and couches, perhaps, I thought, to play cards or dominos. Lo and behold one of the men opened a brown leather binder to produce a well-seasoned Bible, and I knew I had strolled straight (delivered, really) into a prayer circle. By the end of the meeting, the Pastor and his side-kick, a sprightly older gent from his congregation, had us on our feet in the spirit.

But since that night a month ago, we hadn’t seen them again. I asked why and found out that the Pastor serves multiple churches between Connecticut and New York, and only makes it to our house when he can, as part of God’s plan. So guess what we did tonight…

With last-minute blessing of the house staff, we started our own prayer group, and even with short notice, we brought together a half-dozen men to put faith into action. Our verses centered around the one-ness of God in Jesus and vice-versa, helping bring us in closer touch with His divine human-ness, and fathom the majesty of His earthly manifestation. Readings included John 14:6 — “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” — and John 14:11 — “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.”

In other words, Jesus as the Living God. But when I went to write this down for someone who missed our gathering, I left off the “d” in “God.” Then, amazingly, I saw the poignancy of my faux pas: the phrase actually made more sense transcribed as a call-to-action; hence the heading of this post.

Jesus As the Living, Go — Go(d) figure!

(*In a future post we can talk about the unbroken lineage from the 12 tribes of Israel to important players and stories in the New Testament.)