I was forced to stand in silence for an hour and a half today, so I occupied my mind with thoughts of God’s grace. I was trying to decide if I should use the pronoun me, you, or us in the poem I wrote. I began with a mixture of me and you. That didn’t seem right to me. Me would be more personal, but you would be more inclusive. I decided on us, even though I was concerned that it might imply to readers that everyone has access to this grace. Believers in Jesus have been gifted with faith by God’s grace and now have access to that grace. But I wanted to use us in order to group together the body of Christ as we struggle and celebrate together. Here is the result:
Grace for us in every trial
In every hurt, for every mile
Grace enough for each new day
Through the flood and the fray
When days are up or days are down
Skies are bright or grey and brown
Days of hope or dread and fire
Grace enough for the smooth and mire
Grace enough to rescue from hell
To raise us up when we fell
Joy where we would think there is none
Rest now and when life is done
Comparative Religion and Philosophy Class
Posted in Cultural commentary, General, Poem, tagged Cultural commentary, God Thoughts, Poems on October 8, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Bibles and spiritual discussion involving Christianity have largely been expunged from public discourse, politely ignored at best or ridiculed as archaic. So we as a society try to convince ourselves of how enlightened we are by studying various religions and philosophies, all the while being open only to human autonomous naturalism. Even many church-goers acknowledge God as no more than a concept of good behind the scenes rather than a personal, involved, just and loving Sovereign Creator, a real person to whom we are responsible. It is quite ironic that the most Bibles are to be found where the least acceptance of its content is given. In just such a room I stood recently, silent, considering the lack of Bibles elsewhere in the building and the multitude of them here.
Comparative Religion and Philosophy Class Deep irony in our midst The most Bibles in a room On a shelf with all the rest Equal texts as they assume Thoughts of men believed the best Ridicule of God will bloom Putting God's Word to the test Sweep away truth with a broom Of poor logic or mere jest Scoffers conceived in this womb Birth unbelief in this nest Many young skeptics to groom And others their faith arrest Sending belief to its tomb Extract self from this class lest You take part in death and doom Instead, set out on a quest In each context truth exhume That society be blestRead Full Post »