POETRY. New Wineskins
Poetry. Imagination. New and old.
In the poem “wineskins” there is a bold offering to pay attention to new and old.
“The new is lost when I try to preserve
the old. Some things just need to
be let go. What is coming needs room
to happen. To have an organic reaction. The new doesn’t
need me to do its thing. It just needs space to breathe.”
above excerpt from God Speaks Through Wombs by Drew Jackson “Wineskins” (94)
Each of the poem’s lines call out something is happening.
There is loss and letting go. We struggle with this. Yet what is invited is space, for making more room. The invitation is “organic reaction.”
When looking at the parable this poem is derived from Parable of the Wineskin, we see Jesus begins by giving us a hint at wine-making. He talks about wine making to engage his listeners into wonder and understanding of something deeper.
Let’s listen in to some of the wine making process. His listeners would have known this but for most of us we might miss out. So here’s some helpful information for us to fill in any gaps:
Wine making comes out of an organic reaction. Taking grapes from the vine and making something new.
Where does organic reaction come in?
The wine-making comes in with Fermentation which “drives complex chemical reactions that affect the flavor, aroma, and even color of the finished wine.” Organic+reaction=wine, “the grape makes the wine” “grapes are the raw material that goes into wine” “it is a natural process and human intervention is only necessary to increase clarity and consistency. The key element in the fermentation process is yeast: a microscopic, single-celled fungus. When yeast comes into contact with the grape juice, a chemical reaction converts the sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide” [www.illumin.usc.edu]
And there is wine!
Getting back to the parable, once the wine was fermented it would be stored in ancient times in clay pots buried in the ground, and other kinds of pottery vessels, and when taken from the vessels poured in a wineskin.
“A wineskin is an ancient type of bottle
made of leathered animal skin,
used to store or transport wine.”
The new wine needs space to breathe in the new wineskins.
When change happens aka organic reaction it is a new breath, in and out, moving “change” along where eventually the new becomes wine ready to be tasted and enjoyed.
I’m not sure where I was going with this, perhaps while in the midst of change these poetic lyrics, imagery, and a story— all are needed to be carried through this season of change.
Thus leaving room, spaciousness for reflection around and within the nature of change. It comes with new and old.
While rereading some questions arise, and are calling for time, for pause, to sit and see where the change is? Is change still breathing or is there a turn of some kind to come? Perhaps curiosity and wonder help offer breath to change even if one doesn't know where it’s leading or going.
Let’s explore some questions for the offering in listening and waiting, or moving with the change.
Maybe read again the poem portion above before beginning or listen to a reading of the poem Wineskins.
As you sit with the questions, try flowing through the movements: Reflection. Pondering. Prayer.
What is new?
Is the new losing out to the old preservation?
What is happening within you? What is going on around you?
What still needs to be let go?
Am I experiencing space and breath? How does this feel?
Am I resting like that of making new wine?
What am I longing for in the change, or new?
How might God be leading me in these ways?
