Certainty
Certainty
There’s only two things I hate in this world: people who are intolerant of other people’s cultures, and the Dutch.
~Nigel Powers
I admire your conviction, your passion, and your sincerity.
But what if everything you espouse is almost,
but not quite,
right?
Brother Jed,
campus minister,
was 100% certain in his beliefs. I got
him alone once. We had a normal,
civilized conversation devoid of hate and rhetoric. He told me that
college kids had heard a message of love and forgiveness
their entire lives. It worked for lots of them. But some,
he said,
some needed to be called
sinners, harlots, and worse.
Some needed to be shocked,
shamed, and stunned into
hearing The Good News.
Brother Jed’s lieutenants watched his
children play quietly
while students
picked Jed up, carried him
to the water’s edge,
and threw him in Mirror Lake.
There but for the grace… we should be careful to practice what we preach.
I will second that motion Stan!
Thanks for the prompt Dan!
Pamela
Well, I guess Brother Jed was shocked! Good poem and good prompt, Dan!
The only thing I’m 100% certain of is that I’ve got most of it wrong.
The Good News is no news.
If only we could know it without all that preaching…
Godd stuff, Rakoman!
Interesting take on the Good News.
I remember Brother Jed. I heard him several times when he came to BGSU’s campus and preached when I was a student there. I always wondered what was behind that fire.
I don’t agree with his beliefs, but I think it’s wonderful that you got a peek behind the curtain. Thank you for lifting the curtain a little for me in this poem.
-Nicole
An exciting poem, Dan! Gives the message loud and clear!
Neatly told – leaves the reader thinking.