Encarnate

Now leaping down
time’s alleys, immense,
a thunderhead,
but then, on the sly,
bright as a blood petal,
slight as a wheat seed,
insinuating himself
into our living,
so that unexpectedly

our dumb mouths
speak him. Our fingers
acknowledge a dexterity
beyond our own.
Even as we stagger
our limbs turn fleet
as goats. Our myopia
suddenly clears
as he begins to open us
to what we’re meant to see—

his tenderness as he
judges the brownness
of the egg before it is laid.
Tells a candle how long
to burn. Designs the coil
of the snail in his small
house, and the trail
of glisten that shows
where God led him.

—Luci Shaw

Copyright © 2014 by the author or Christianity Today/Books & Culture magazine.Click here for reprint information on Books & Culture.

Also in this issue

Books & Culture was a bimonthly review that engaged the contemporary world from a Christian perspective. Every issue of Books & Culture contained in-depth reviews of books that merit critical attention, as well as shorter notices of significant new titles. It was published six times a year by Christianity Today from 1995 to 2016.

Our Latest

Review

Puns and Pettiness in ‘The Promised Land’

Peter T. Chattaway

The YouTube mockumentary works best when it pulls laughs directly from Exodus.

The Russell Moore Show

Listener Question: Should We Sing Worship Songs By Fallen Songwriters?

Russell takes a listener’s question about whether the work of fallen songwriters and authors should be used for worship.

Excerpt

Apologetics After Christendom

The Bulletin with Collin Hansen

How to share your faith in a “spiritual but not religious” world.

Analysis

Christian Brides Don’t Need to Wear White

How Scripture offers grace in wedding planning.

The Bulletin

Sunday Afternoon Reads: An American Deportation

Andy Olsen reads his piece about a Christian couple’s 35-year stay in America, and how it came to an end.

News

Malaysian Court Vindicates Family of Abducted Pastor

A judge finds authorities complicit in Raymond Koh’s disappearance, granting millions in damages and ordering a new investigation.

News

When God Closes a Church, He Opens Another?

Robert Herguth

US evangelicals are buying up shuttered Catholic properties.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube