The Ice Cap And The Polar Bear (Genesis 13:5-18)
The ice-cap melts unevenly;
From satellites we plainly see
That home for polar bear is gone,
Or going fast (some think I’m wrong).The polar bear can feel the change,
As habitat is rearranged;
Of course, of course, he has no clue –
His problem more? What now to do?The patch of ice where he once stood
To fish and swim, was one time good;
But now it crumbles ’neath his feet –
Not everywhere, but here it’s “eeeesch!”As patch of ice keeps melting down
The polar bears take look around,
Then stronger ones (who catch on first),
Drive others off – survival’s curse.The driven-off feel bad today,
For they must find another way
To live, find rock on which to stand,
As ice-flow drifts away from land.But peek ahead – take long-term view –
Who’s better off? I hunch it’s you;
For ice continues in its melt,
And drift from land – now blessing’s felt.My ice patch melted ’neath my feet –
Got booted off by church elite;
Some still inhabit drifting ice,
And think their world is pretty nice.That’s fine for them, and maybe you,
But ice-cap gone, what will you do?
Bemoan your sad and outcast state,
Or in cold water celebrate?For now you’ve opportunity
To exercise the gift in thee;
Not with three years of teaching time,
But decades honed, and skills refined.For that you’ve had stability
To exercise ability;
You’ll find what transfers from the ice
To rock on shore now will suffice –To do your work without the drag
Of institution’s base you had;
“Look up” like Abraham of old –
There’s more ahead than ice and cold.navigation