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This thought-provoking poem by award-winning artist Crystal Tennille Irby challenges readers to consider what the "greater work" is in response to John 14:12.

John 14:12

What Wondrous Work Is This

By 

Crystal Irby

Credits: 

Curated by: 

Davelyn Hill

2021

Poetry

Image by Giorgio Trovato

Primary Scripture

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A couple of years ago I was having a conversation with a friend, Shemuel, who is a talented art curator. We were discussing Romans 8:17, "and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified." We talked about what it meant to be an heir of God and joint heirs with Christ, how much power that bestowed upon us and within us. We questioned why we don't tap into that power, which led us to John 14:12. Shem said to me, "Jesus didn't want us chasing His ghost. He wanted greater works from us." That was life changing for me and since that day, whenever I feel out of alignment, I say to myself "what is the greater work?" It reminds me that if my inheritance from Jesus is that I will do greater work than Him, if He called me to do greater work, then I am powerful, which means I have the capacity to co-create my experience. Then the question becomes, what is "the greater work". I believe "the greater work" is US, divinity in the flesh. We are a source of power, a source of and for great work. We don't have to look outside ourselves for source or power. Our work is to consistently align with that divinity, witness miracles unfold, witness what we can manifest in partnership with God.

Spark Notes

The Artist's Reflection

Crystal Tennille Irby is a spoken word poetry grand slam champion, published writer, director and identifies as a #BlackMamaCreative, an artist creating work across multiple artistic disciplines centering Black mothering, absent of the white gaze. She is a doula and the current co-host and executive producer of Dem Black Mamas Podcast, a podcast that delves into the unique experience of 3 Black Mama Creatives raising free children while catching their creative dreams. Crystal is a TEDxGreenville presenter, a Watering Hole Poetry Fellow and the founder and Director of Writers Well Youth Fellowship, a program for Black girls ages 14-19 focused on writing and performance. Her recent credits include, Untitled Reconstruction Project, which she directed and co-produced and Untamed Womb: Reclaiming Wonder Through Healing, Liberation & Creativity, a Project Row Houses installation which she co-curated. She was also a contributing writer for For Harriet. In addition to her creative endeavors, Crystal has presented at numerous conferences including Black Maternal Health Conference & Training Institute; Let’s Talk About Sex, & HIV Prevention & Education Summit. Crystal has over 15 years of experience working to dismantle systemic and institutional racism. She works as a community doula helping Black birth persons stay connected to their body and as a facilitator for Speaking Down Barriers pushing communities forward by helping Black people heal from race and gender trauma. She also served on the board of Hub City Writers Project, a place based non-profit press committed to publishing southern writers.


Crystal is the mother of 4 children and shares her life with an Omega man.



www.crystaltennilleirby.com

Instagram: crystaltennilleirby



Crystal Irby

About the Artist

After the Blood Is Gone: When the Killing Won't Stop

Crystal Irby

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Related Information
Image by Aaron Burden

I, raised in a house of God gave reverence to thunder and lightning through silence, knew the devil beat his wife, sat in awe of a deity who allowed it

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What Wondrous Work Is This

by Crystal Tennille Irby



I, raised in a house of God

gave reverence to thunder and lightning through silence,

knew the devil beat his wife,

sat in awe of a deity who allowed it,

wondered who was the devil,

the rain or the sun,

consistently interrogated divinity.


Cause men be nimble with disguises

or maybe my well trained eyes expected a woman

the greater work

only ones I saw

saving,

doing all the forgiving

giving all the mercy

built of grace

alchemizing apparatuses into alters or pews instantly

for prayer or praise

consistently catching divinity.


Cause women be brilliant as the the Holy Spirit

giving up the ghost

joining Jesus as joint heirs

worshipping Him as ascended ancestor

accepting inheritance

ability to resurrect

shape shift

pull thorns from sides

Christless cross be their guide

consistently convening divinity.

What a wondrous work.





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Image by Aaron Burden

I, raised in a house of God gave reverence to thunder and lightning through silence, knew the devil beat his wife, sat in awe of a deity who allowed it

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