Monday, October 21, 2013

Play Ball!

Being mainline is strike one;
small church is strike two;
now we’re just protecting the plate.

Are we attempting to foul-off
anything close, hoping to gain 
a free pass; or actually trying
to connect with anything(one?)
in the neighborhood?

Maybe it’s an altogether
different plate we’re guarding;
one filled more with coins
and George Washingtons
than a representation of
the gifts of God’s generosity.

How do we stay in the game,
when faster-paced events, and activities
with measurable payback get more attention;
where shot and play clock prevail,
and return on investment rules?

How does the timelessness of faith
play in today’s tightly scheduled arena,
where pleasure is the measure,
and every window’s a mirror?

When the upward journey
reveals its cracks, and the good life
turns out to be a hollow shell
with little more inside than unfulfilled hunger,

we’ll recognize the plate we have
isn’t for protecting, but holds
the bread of life; our cup, not for guarding,
but offering living wine and water,
filling the world’s deepest longing:

to share all of our broken self
at the deepest, with neither
fear of rejection nor anxiety
over whether there’ll be
enough for tomorrow.

Photo by Maggie Beamguard


© 2013 Todd Jenkins

2 comments:

  1. Just loved this. Baseball spirit philosophy...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Me too. Of course I live in Red Sox country.

    ReplyDelete