And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too. If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law. They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.” ~ Hebrews 8:3-5 (NLT)

My friend had emphasized the absolute necessity of demonstrating these principles in all my affairs. Particularly was it imperative to work with others as he had worked with me. Faith without works was dead, he said. ~ Alcoholics Anonymous, Page 14

Patterns,
rules,
recipes,
curriculum —
tough as heck for me
to follow – I can’t teach
a lesson plan I wrote myself!
Principles, proposals, suggestions,
Steps —
I want to follow, want to realize
the absolute necessity, the imperatives.
But I can’t teach
a lesson plan I wrote myself,
can’t cook with exactly the ingredients
written down.
I know I need to read, to listen, to accept, to surrender.
But that’s so tough.
I can’t teach my own curriculum.

God who made the pattern,
give me the fortitude to follow it!