Author Archives: jackpelham

New ideas are often rejected,Not because they have beenWeighed on the meritsAnd found wanting,But because they areSimply unfamiliar.

He’s fascinated with a certain Bible topicAnd fancies himself on an exciting odyssey,With which God is helping him in a time of bothGrand discovery and self-realization—Using him, even, to reveal important truthsTo an ignorant world.

There comes a pointWhen you just have to Take all the folks who get itAnd leave the other ones behind.

You’ll not change the worldWithout changing the people,Yet so many who seek the formerHave no plan whatsoever for the latter. Whatever glory they see in changing the world,They do not find in changing an individual.And I ask you: what world … Continue reading →

She has quit trying.She makes no effortTo better herselfOr to relieve her own woes. She has shunnedResponsibility for herself,As she has also shunned thoseWho hold her to account.She kicks at the goads.

I have seen kids afraid.Afraid of me.Afraid of one another.Afraid to think.Afraid to wonder.Afraid to be uncomfortable.Afraid to invest themselves.Afraid to take a chance.Afraid to get it wrong.Afraid to get it right.Afraid to miss out.Afraid to join in.Afraid to love.Afraid … Continue reading →

This world is tiredOf the lessons unlearned—Still before us and signaling our shameAfter all these centuriesOf stubborn neglect.

Where did we ever get the idea thatOur angry complaints about corruptionAre a better use of our timeThan would be actual reform?

Being so poor at reflection asOur culture teaches us to be.Surely, we overlook many thingsAbout that wonderful life in the Garden— And this one glorious differenceBetween our life and theirsOccurs to me just now. They had no market,No ads.No salesmen. … Continue reading →

She was so utterly and absolutely willing To take his word for it.And, as far as we have been told,It never once crossed her mindThat she might verify what he saidBefore choosing to believe it.