Just after Sandy Hook I wrote the poem below. It's not complete, but, I felt now a few weeks on it's time to post.
From pulpit to pulpit
Across the vast plains
Over the Mountains to the
sea
The word of God is proclaimed
Preaching and condemning
The sin and
sinner alike
In a broken world
The redeemed are saved
Worshiping
the One true God
As long as He is nicely
Wrapped into a gift box
To be
opened when they want
Or want to hear.
They worship their land
They
worship their politicians
They worship their belongings
They worship their
money
They worship their their guns
They worship their power
They
worship that gift wrapped box.
They hear a baby crying
Where is the
sound coming from?
It doesn't matter
It's not their problem
"We are
Saved and ok
Let it help itself".
But, can it be coming from that
box?
One person doesn't sit and watch
They go over to the box
Undo
the ribbons
Remove the shiny paper
And opens the box
To their
surprise their is no baby
But, a huge blinding light.
Worship me not
your land
Worship me not your politicians
Worship me not your
belongings
Worship me not your money
Worship me not your guns
Worship
me not your power
"Lord"', they screamed
"When did we worship our
Land?"
"When you put your Country
Before me and your flag above
mine,
Made yourselves above all others.
I am here for all people
Not
just the powerful or elite".
"Lord", they cried
"When did worship our
politicians?"
"When you put your political agenda
Ahead of mine distorting
it
For your own gain.
I am here for all people
Not just the powerful or
elite"
"Lord", asking more quietly
"When did we worship our belongings
and money?"
"What you did not do for the least
There are homeless in the
streets
Children are starving.."
Emboldened they interrupted
"We
can't share the wealth because
Everyone has to
contribute....."
"Silence..." He shouts.
I died and suffered
I
shared and gave my life
When no one was worthy
You bunch of hypocrites
Make the Pharisees look good!"
Trembling they ask
"What to you
want us to do?"
"Love, love, love. Everyone
Make peace amongst the
nations
Take care of the sick, poor and hungry
Show all men me and not
your greed.
The world is still broken for now.
I'll return soon, but,
until then..."
They all looked at the box
Ignoring what was being
said
And started to argue
About what to do about guns
And who should
get to see a doctor
And who should get married
And how many
weapons...
One person tried to talk.
"Did you not hear what He
said?
Do you not understand?
They laughed at them
Attacked them and
threw them out.
" We are saved and God's chosen
Be gone you false
prophet."
The lid on the box
Closed very, very slowly
And as it
did
A baby was heard crying
But, this time no one heard.
-Richard
