A Good Idea

Another house warming gift arrives today, from my friend John Blase. John is a poet and storyteller. Basically, he makes words dance. John is one of those men who, through his writing and his way, helps keep me sane (or at least slightly less off-kilter). You'll want to read John over at The Beautiful Due, and you'll want to snag his latest book, All is Grace, co-written with Brennan Manning.

In A Good Idea, John continues the tale of the rich young ruler and how, he believes, he did eventually come 'round via the fidelity of his poor young wife.

 

Sell all you have and give to the poor.

His rich young ears took Jesus literally,

causing a domino of shock and recoil

until finally the grievous turning away.

It was so sad. So young and so close.

Jesus thought to pursue the lost sheep

but knew if literal was the cause

literal could never be the salvation.

So with reined-compassion he chose

another way, a chance happening to

pass by the olive grove where the

poor young wife paused daily to feed

the sparrows. He stood at the edge

of her aloneness as she pitched crumbs

to the beggars. His voice still until she

had given all she had to them and only

then he dared speak: Life is a good idea.

She smiled, sensing unfamiliar patience

in him that roused the same in her.

It was merely a scrap but yes -

my husband might ease from striving

and seek my face once more, and

consider the birds fed without trouble.