Jack Pelham

I could marvel at how our species
Has learned that some things
Are in fact so utterly important
As to warrant the great labor and expense
Of building a lighthouse to help the captains
Find their way without incident―

You have been happening to me
For quite some time now.

The good habits out of which
I so habitually get
Are the best evidence
For the hypothesis that
This life is, in fact,
A self-guided training program,
The point and import of which
Is not at some times
As clear to me as at others.

It is a divine kindness
In this beautiful-ugly world
That there are good things here
To be enjoyed.

Until Jesus is enough for you, no person or thing will ever be.

Steven Furtick

This meme may sound awfully right and satisfying to some, but I think it’s messed up. I think this was written from the point of view of somebody who doesn’t know Jesus very well. But let me start first by examining the “tone” of it.

Come, let us discover, new friend,
Which are the things I might discuss at ease
With a fuller person, but
Dare not mention to you.

We are free to choose the words we use, yet we use the same word to describe God as we use to describe ice cream, do we not?

I want to write a brief article today because I don’t have time to write the book(s?) that the topic deserves. But even so, brevity takes its time, too. So here’s a thesis statement aimed at giving you hope that reading this short article is worth your time:

Perhaps you have got them labeled as “strong”,
And have made up your mind that they are
Worthy of your stout and silent respect,
But it’s likely that you have little idea
What all battles they have to fight
To be the people that you see.
And I’d like to suggest that
One of those battles is
To keep it all going
Even when they
Get next to
Nothing
From their
Quiet admirers,
Who think that the
Strength is certain to
Stay as it is without good
Encouragement from those
For whose benefit it is served
Up so courageously and selflessly,
And even when they don’t feel like it.
To remain silent is to rob them of
Nature’s best encouragement,
Leaving them to whatever
Nourishment they can
Provide themselves
From their own
Convictions.

Looking at this photo of some kids at a party in 1947, I think that if I were to spend an hour considering the differences from then to now, it would be an hour well-spent.