I wrote this great poem - absolutely marvelous. I poured out my heart and my doubts, balanced the rhythm and made every other line rhyme. What an accomplishment of mine! And I have it here to share with you. But I'm not going to. Why? Because it is boring. Don't get me wrong. It inspires me and makes me reflect on what I have done and encourages me to do more. But I think you'd respond "why is she telling us this?" I'll share an excerpt (at which point I read verse one of previous poem posted). I read this to someone I admire and she said, so what if you didn't convert anyone. What if your honesty an openness just started a ripple effect and someone who was searching now knows where to look?
What a concept - keep it simple , say what's on your mind and let people make their own choices without thanking you...or sometimes without even knowing where the idea came from. Does that sound familiar? The bible uses words to encourage, instruct and bless, It's done simply - not a lot of fourish, doesn't always rhyme and when it does, the rhyme can be grating. But we answer the words we read by returning to God words of entreaty, happiness and praise. We do it because a window is opened and we feel the freedom of the words.
When the Bible speaks, it isn't just words. John's gospel starts "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
How understated!
Jesus said: I AM the Son of Man. I AM the Bread of Life. I AM the Light of the World. I am the Good Shepherd. I AM the Resurrection and the Life. I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. I AM the Vine...
He left no room for doubt as to who he was. He didn't say, "you can call me..." or "you can think of me as..." or "some people say..." He didn't think of himself at all, he didn't second guess himself - he said who he was and that was that.
So in thanks for THE WORD and all the words we use to praise God, I offer a second poem and prayer. It is based on the work of one of the most beloved American poets, known for his ability to share a moral, upbeat and instructional message using few, simple words.
And God Said...
I AM GOD. GOD I AM.
THAT GOD, I AM. THAT GOD, I AM. HOW WELL I KNOW THAT GOD, I AM.
DO YOU KNOW HIS SON, THE LAMB?
OF COURSE I KNOW HIS SON, THE LAMB. I KNOW HIM THROUGH THAT GOD, I AM.
DO YOU KNOW HIM IN YOUR HOUSE? DO YOU KNOW HIM WITH YOUR SPOUSE?
I KNOW AND PRAISE HIM IN MY HOUSE. I PRAISE AND KNOW HIM WITH MY SPOUSE.
DO YOU KNOW HIM WHEN YOU TOIL? DO YOU KNOW HIM WHEN YOU BOIL?
I NEED TO KNOW HIM WHEN I TOIL. I SEEM TO LOSE HIM WHEN I BOIL.
DO YOU KNOW HIM WHEN YOU SMILE? HAVE YOU KNOWN HIM FOR A WHILE?
I KNOW HIM STRONGEST WHEN I SMILE AND MY FOREVER'S HIS SHORT WHILE.
DO YOU KNOW HIM WITH YOUR SON? DOES HE LIVE IN EVERYONE?
I KNOW I SEE HIM IN MY SON. HE'S MOST ALIVE IN EVERYONE.
I SEE HIS LOVE IN CHRIST THE LAMB, WHO CAME TO EARTH AS JUST A MAN.
I DO, I DO KNOW WHY, AS MAN, HE TELLS US SIMPLY, GOD, I AM.
Father, bless us and thank you for the words we use to praise you. Thank you for the music we use to express our praise. Thank you for all the people you have given us to make our lives more like yours. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment