Only love Only love can leave such a mark But only love Only love can heal such a scar
...
Only love Only love can leave such a mark But only love Only love unites our hearts
Regarding the poem. ... The place, Primary Class, Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church, Jeff Davis County, GA - though the name of the church is misleading, for it is Southern Baptist, not the even more conservative Missionary Baptist. The congregation divided Sunday School into Beginners, Primary, Intermediate, Juniors, and Adult. Once a year, early in October, those old enough graduated to the next class, all the way to Adult. Some remained, others moved on. The date was set in stone. Possibly, the little lad was the first to challenge it, but to no avail. Right prevailed, as so often in this world where we visit for a while.
But let mishpat (justice) flow on as mayim (waters), and tzedakah (righteousness) as an ever-flowing stream.
-Jewish Scripture, Amos 5.24
So then, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- Christian Scripture, Colossians 3.12
You'll pay a dear price [woe to] for you Bible scholars and Pious ones [Pharisees, religio-polotical party opposing the Jesus Way], mask wearers [play actors, hypocrites]! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin and have neglected the more important matters of the sacred Teaching: justice, compassion, trust [faith].
I read the three practices as relational, pertaining to how we treat others in our social relations. Healthy community depends on these three. Community is weakened if we do not enact fairness, offer compassion, and develop trust among members of the community. While all three are relational, the last could place the first two in context with our relationship with Spirit, what Jesus often spoke of as "Father," so breaking with tradition by utilizing a parental image. He did this, affirming an intimacy not characteristic in prior Jewish religion. If we read the passage in this manner, vertical and horizontal intersects as mutually-dependent actions.
- Jesus, Gospel of Matthew 23.23
* * *
angry angry oh my! enraged
- fury the voice of pain -
and of all places Primary Class... Sunday School... Church - where people come to meet God
Sunday School book flies from a small hand slams against a tile floor
see told you, didn't i - seething cauldron, raging fire
missed moving on to the next class by one month - one - left behind
separated from close friends - why? four weeks! twenty-eight days!
what's this nonsense in a sanctum of Christ - born in November not October - dear God! dear God!
the teacher fetches the dad who chastens the boy in front of the class
this right, this wrong powerless, shamed chap no options, follow the iron-clad rule
no room for negotiations no concern for the hurt explanation and ultimatum
a tadpole born and swimming circles inside a tiny pool
one the boy did not choose thankfully, finally, fled - it took many years
righteous way obedience first betrays warmly flowing blood
can anyone capture wind store it in a closed hand - spirit is the moving Breath
you'll do this you'll not do that - right triumphs over love
afterwards the little chap sad, sitting alone in a pew friends were celebrated, congregation congratulating
inspiration for the grown man witness of the perils of righteousness compassion set aside for what people call right
not him, not him
* * *
Many people, like I was, are taught that righteousness is doing the right thing. My late Hebrew professor, speaking of the Hebrew word for "righteousness" (tzedikah), central to the life of the pre-Jewish tribes and, later, kingdoms Judah and Israel, said, "Righteousness is right relationship."
* not him, not him - What do you hear?
* What did the professor mean?
* Do we ever get a relationship right? Does it matter? To the first question - If you say, "No," what is your "right"? If you say "Yes," what is your "right"?
* What does this mean? - You do not get a relationship right to get it right, but that does not mean getting it wrong.
