John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. (Mark 9: 38-41)

John's first impulse is to control. Jesus seeks to empower.

In both our personal and institutional lives we seek consistency and coherence.

What seems inconsistent or incoherent we often seek to control.

God creates, empowers, and sets-free.

Where there is care for another, kindness, and creativity we will find God.

Creating may often seem inconsistent or incoherent with what went before.

But when attentive to God's intent, creativity is a means by which coherence is renewed.