HIS ALL-INCLUSIVE MIND

On a cold winter Sunday, arriving at the church,
We were snug as a bug, all clothed in our pride;
But as much distracted as a parrot on its perch
By what we were seeing as we walked inside.

We were all dressed up in "our best bib and tucker",
About to take the cup, as we listened to the Word,
But there beside the church stood an "unlucky sucker",
Who for all we could see, The Word had never heard.

We didn't ask him in, or act like a friend,
But just passed by, as if we were shy;
We gossiped with our friends, and did not defend
That wretch outside we were quick to deny.

The prelude was ended when the doors opened wide;
The tattered coat, the hat pulled down,
And the same worn shoes we had seen outside
Slowly walked the aisle! Can you hear the silent sound?

He walked to the pulpit; the church was quiet as death!
He took off his coat; he took off his hat,
And there before our Pastor, we all caught our breath!
Not a text, nor a word! There was no need of that!!

In as much, my friends, as we help the least of these,
With a cup of cold water, or our welcome, warm and kind,
We will reach out, our Master truly please,
And so embrace His all-inclusive Mind.

HIS ALL-INCLUSIVE MIND

February 18, 1999

On a cold winter Sunday, arriving at the church,
We were snug as a bug, all clothed in its pride;
But as much distracted as a parrot on its perch
By what we were seeing as we walked inside.

We were all dressed up in “our best bib and tucker”,
About to take the cup, as we listened to the Word,
But there beside the church stood an “unlucky sucker”,
Who for all we could see, The Word had never heard.

We didn’t ask him in, or act like a friend,
But just passed by, as if we were shy;
We gossiped with our friends, and did not defend
That wretch outside we were quick to deny.

The prelude was ended when the doors opened wide;
The tattered coat, the hat pulled down,
And the same worn shoes we had seen outside
Slowly walked the aisle! Can you hear the silent sound?

He stood behind the pulpit; the church was quiet as death!
He took off his coat; he took off his hat,
And there before our Pastor, we all caught our breath!
Not a text, nor a word! There was no need of that!!

In as much, my friends, as we help the least of these,
With a cup of cold water, or our welcome, warm and kind,
We will reach out, our Master truly please,
And so embrace His all-inclusive Mind.

MUSCLE MOVEMENT

February 4, 1999

In years long gone
I could run a mile,
And from five minutes
Give back a while.

For years I’ve weighed
One-eighty-five,
And I still weigh that;
And still “look alive?”

But now that age
Has changed my paces,
Many good muscles
Have exchanged places.

Muscles that once made me strong,
Around my middle, have gotten long.
Once they made a good strong belly,
But now they let it shake like jelly.

Belts that once just filled the bill,
Now, when fastened, make me ill;
Once they fit exactly right,
But now they make me feel “up tight”.

My doctor said she wanted me,
Each day or two, to walk a mile,
But goodness sake, five plus three,
And then I have to have a while.

Me, Oh My! What must I do?
I must be honest; I must be true;
I walk most places that I go;
But that’s just walking to and fro.

So tighten that belt, and walk, Old Man,
Keep puffing on, until you can
Walk four miles every day,
And shorten that belt the proper way.

A WORD TO MYSELF

February 4, 1999

Again arrives that time of year,
A time we people truly fear,
A time to settle down to facts:
IT’S TIME TO DO OUR INCOME TAX!!

I much prefer to write a rhyme,
Or ride a horse, to fill my time;
Or read some mail, or send a fax;
But Oh, Gee Whiz, Income Tax?

How much of this? What cost for that?
There are more ways “To skin a cat”
But listen, friend, don’t get too lax
When working out your income tax.

Though burdened with the weight of proof,
IRS can catch our “goof’,
And can still ask for facts,
That support our report for Income Tax.

So buckle down, take new heart,
Lay out those bills and make your start;
In early spring, we can relax,
And brag, “I’VE FINISHED UP MY INCOME TAX!”