Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance, he said that day's
Like cloverleaf around one's prey –
Move-in, move out, and circle round,
While staying flat against the ground

For one perspective's not enough
In battle where the goings tough;
“Thin ice” will not uphold the rest
And “unprepared” means lose the best.

So too in life – we hear the Word –
At first Christ Jesus sounds absurd –
So in and out and round we go,
To see and test degree of show.

First window may be Abelard
Whose love of Heloise was hard
As road to walk when daddy said,
“I want him gelded, gone, or dead”.

Or maybe Anselm's view of Christ
Is found to be absurd or nice
With all its, “Ally-mugging” – “cat”
And “backfire saves a former rat.”

Or maybe Dietrich rings a bell
Of affirmation from his cell;
Or Kierkegaard's existence says
Absurd is life through all our days;

So, Paul with convoluted Greek;
Or Luke, physician – words so sleek;
Or pigeon-Greek of Mark says best;
Or scholar-Matthew stands the test;

Perceiver-John with cryptic notes
Significance his thing for folks;
A sheaf of letters round things out
With mixed perspectives (some in doubt).

But hey! There's food for all concerned,
Enough for sceptic’s clover-turns;
In end, who knows but God himself?
But don't just put it on the shelf –

An open mind like open mouth
Is meant to close, both North and South;
But it should not just stay that way –
Digest – then open up again.

For we are not the food we eat,
But food digested – sour and sweet.
We've shared a bite of toast and jam,
A bit to help you be the man –

God had in mind some years ago
When he said, “Ah! this way I'll go –
I'll put him with some Dauphin kin
So he can bless the town he's in”.

A stony row was his to hoe,
But struggle made him tough to go
To battle, clover-leafing round,
And tearing cross that open ground.

He learned of platform's central place,
The need for one in life – like Grace.
Some help he got – found Christ as Lord –
He circled around – then got on board.

Now here we are at road's divide;
Our different ways, Christ by our side
And up ahead while deep within;
Fresh hope for all – released from sin.

navigation