Pond Hockey (Romans 7:25)
A ring of hockey-boards were set
Out on the pond of ice, which let
The children play a hockey game
Both fast and tight – for puck remained –Within the boards – did not escape
Across the pond, and thus create
A stoppage in their hockey game –
Inside the boards their play remained.Outside the boards some others played;
No bounds for them, quite free they stayed;
But when the puck escaped and shot
Across the ice, their playing stopped.A ring of panels God set out,
Quite basic, circled round about
His Hebrew children long ago;
“Stay in the boards and you will know –“A faster, tighter hockey game,
Though outside ice is just the same:
‘Play off the boards’, ‘in corners tight
Dig for the park in friendly fight’.“Each panel helps the game along;
One missing, soon there’s something wrong,
For puck through missing boards escapes –
A stoppage in the game it makes.“Two panels gone, or three or four
Is even worse – how can we score
If we must stop and fetch the puck?
Full set of boards from God? What luck!We need not chase the puck when cash
Is stolen – (best we ‘give’ and ‘ask’)
Nor when our spouse takes off on us
(Sex in the bounds reduces fuss).It’s hard to stay within the bounds
Of all the panels circled ’round
Our game of life – (we need not stay
But in the bounds there’s better play).Grace helps us come inside the boards,
Learn how to play – not just in word,
But on the ice with stick in hand –
New life in Christ – in Kingdom land.navigation