Devotions

The blog he wrote – it's good enough
To grasp his insight, share his stuff
As we devotions start this day,
As Stu responds – comes out to play.

Two ditches lining road ahead
(The road I walk till day I'm dead)
Mired down in each, two bitter foes –
Pot-shots exchange at other's woes.

Released from both myopic views
(A decade since I heard that news);
Freed up to see the world for real,
Freed up that all such past might heal.

The man is credible it seems;
He's from one ditch, his vision gleams;
Nobody has it all and clear,
So here and there, feeds far and near.

I cannot enter either ditch
But from them both I am enriched
I'll start with his perspective fare
And listen for Your presence there.

For later on a part he says:
“Make heaven here, throughout your days –
And heaven has abundance, right?
So crank ’er up, live this insight.”

He starts out setting up a range
Of target tasks, shows they're not strange:
“How much was earned at your first job
Or business, viewed in per-month-bob?”

For me? ten bucks or so I guess,
Sold off newsletters to the rest
Till mother-dear shut all that down
With words of caution (mixed with frown).

“And when did that rate ten-fold rise
To hundred bob – push to the skies?”
I guess as lifeguard at that camp –
Not long, but that was first on-ramp.

“And ten-fold up once more?” he asked.
Ah! That first Mission-Field in past –
That would be pretty much a grand
Per month, as near I understand.

“How ’bout ten-fold – ten grand per month?”
I got halfway, here in the South –
At reservation project there
Four-grand per month out at White Bear.

“Would that be net or gross?”He ’quired.
Gross at the best, more I desired
For they left out the project's cash
So I filled in from former stash.

“Okay, now you can see the place
Where we are going – no disgrace
To keep it growing – ten-fold rise;
No limit here where blue the skies.

“But let's restrict it just a bit –
One Thousand daily (make that net),
That puts you in top one percent –
You'll understand then what I've meant.

“Come back and read my blogs some more,
And plug them in, there's tips galore;
For if you act on what you see
You'll grow in income just like me.”

I peaked ahead, saw what he meant –
Concrete he is – tough as cement;
Not a airy-fairy ringside stuff,
But nitty-gritty, context tough.

Each person has a piece I hunch,
Like loaves and fishes for our lunch;
So let us break, and bless, and share –
Push into life, not just compare.

Help Lord, as we devotions start
Keep open to your giving heart –
Hear through these words Your presence there,
Trade up these pearls as we compare.

A treasure covered up with mud
Is precious still, though mired in crud;
Percent encrusted's not the point –
More, treasure found which You anoint.

“Devotion” – what devoted to?
For me? Not treasure, more, it's You;
“For Your abundant life I see
On Earth, in Heaven ”, that's truth to me.

For you do not want poverty
For us – not your economy
For being poor puts out the flame –
Our pilot light’s snuffed in the game.

So, okay, zeroed-out today –
It's timely message for our way:
We'll mine for gold, the tailings strip,
Refine the ore, produce gold-brick.

Like stones I searched on road that day
Took five not bad, tossed one away
With each new stone of type I found –
Soon all five stones were red and round.

So that's day one – a buying-in
To quest and practice – world we are in
Recalling camel, needle's eye –
Your grace, O Lord – or else we die.

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