Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Buffet Boot Camp: A Poem

Buffet Boot Camp

No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs…

-2 Timothy 2:4


Full bellies—“Bread and circus”—while the battle rages

and souls are dying.


An all-you-can-eat, buffet boot camp:

“Eat ‘til you’re full” –and then some.

Where are those beating, buffeting their bodies

to make them serve the King...?

Outright war breeds

either fear and flight, or

awakening to action, training to fight

Scattered congregant yawns

lazily

wind

their

way

around a dormant parish.

Fidget.

“Quarter ‘til.”

Tick...tock…

The preacher’s words, and a circling bottlefly—

Hardly a contest for a child’s—and parents’—attention.

“Will it land? Where?—place your bets.”

“Amen.”

“Oh—he’s done.

Time for lunch.”

2 comments:

  1. Yes--written first as a reflection on my own habits, as a challenge to self (and then to others)

    ReplyDelete