“The Piece (sic) That Passes Understanding” [Reflections on Book: Wm.C.King (ed) Portraits and Principles of The World's Great Men And Women Chicago: The King-Richardson Co. 1899 - #11/100]

The whole of any group aren’t good, or bad, or anything
That is the point of humankind, we each some gift can bring
This fellow has a sweeping brush – “Why can’t all be like me?
I’m such a specimen that’s come on land from primal sea.

“I pull my weight, not like that guy there kneeling in the pew;
I give my tithes and offerings to church and missions too;
I am well-educated, unlike some who scorn the cloth;
I mow my grass, and work long hours unlike their lives of sloth.

“I’m humble too, not arrogantly seeking pride of place;
I’m humbly carrying out my task in this forsaken space;
I don’t complain, aloud that is, except to kith and kin
(I wish those skinflints paid me more for hours that I put in).

“I preach the word in seasons fair and foul, I show no fear
Or favor to my worthy flock, old ladies I call ‘Dear’;
I am ‘Hail fellow’ and ‘Well met’ with so much more to do
To fill my church each Sabbath day, and Wednesday evenings too.

“My gospel is, ‘Be punctual”; show ‘Diligence’ as well;
‘High-energy’ and ‘Piety’ will keep your souls from hell;
I am no Wesley, John that is, or Samuel Morse, I’d say,
But I aspire to work that hard, and hopefully get paid.”

Lord, this is what I’ve heard so much within, without the Kirk –
How life would so much better be if everybody worked;
It preaches well, but it’s not true, more ‘British’ I would say;
It’s far more complex than it sounds today or yesterday.

Lord, help me focus on each one of us, as I do life;
Help me abide in You today, for soonest comes the night;
Help us ensure there’s work for all through economic change;
Help us think how we best can work as world gets rearranged.

Lord, Kingdom-layer is part of this, it gives a place to stand,
And grow beyond our present state, in You, then lend a hand;
Gives room for You to free up folks as Jubilee comes here,
And frees the folks in our small world, we hold so near and dear.

And as we do our lives in You, fulfill the things You ask,
Give us the grace to step aside when time for work is past;
Thanks for suggestion that I split my income from my toil,
That work continue, rain or shine, which others cannot spoil.

I pray that somehow I can live enough for You each day
That others feel impacting love You pour out on this clay;
I pray that work You wish that I would do on Your behalf
Might see the light of day somehow – to others be their staff.

That work they’ve done, now laid aside might travel down the field;
That what’s cut short through circumstance, might still some harvest yield;
Help me to help some others out, who stand in need today,
Not to view retirement as a time to take a holiday.

There’s so much I feel needs being done before my years are through;
Your input in these past few weeks has changed my point of view;
Help me to grow into that truth as I go back to toil
In this wee patch of Kingdom-layer; out here on prairie soil.

Thanks Lord for this.

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