I Just Don't Know How To Love Him

“I don't know how to love him” crooned the singer years ago,
As Jesus' Mary thought about how love for Him should go;
I find the same emerges for me in these days of flood,
As need exceeds capacity midst sandbags, water, mud.

The river's swelling o'er its banks, far deeper than before;
They say one-half Niagara Falls now sweeps on past our door;
“One foot in five”(that's minutes) up it came just yesterday;
Effects on judgment? Numbing down, and not that much to say.

Compassion-people overwhelm when crisis overcomes –
Enormity, catastrophe, their mental process numbs;
Their brinkmanship – reliance on a focus of one's thought
By waiting, letting pressure mount, not doing what they ought –

Can go too far and then the numbness floods into their souls;
Instead of surge they shut right down, don't know which way to go;
But when they're boss, you can't help out, bring others into play;
So in the end you drive back home – toss out your better way.

I hate it, Lord, when folks won't see their need for body parts
Which complement their contributions – think they're very smart;
In church and business, family life, “attract the folks like me”;
Then live without the “hearing part” as they can only “see”.

Too little (by the way of gifts); too late (which is there wont);
This plays itself out every day and so such people don't
Succeed in life – don't see the walls which they must face some day;
Like Noah's neighbours, they wash out when flooding comes their way.

The “Morning” poem Archie Lampman wrote one misty day,
It resonated in our souls, when Film Board had its say –
“Two ducks ahead, two back” were shown, I pondered then their skill,
And felt the impact of their art, perhaps I always will.

Compassion-people with their art and sensitivity
Enrich our lives, and comfort bring to grim reality;
They have their place – relationships, lift high ecology
And making music all as one, they call a symphony.

But sometimes they must step aside, let cooler heads prevail,
And listen when some other folks speak of a coming gale;
“But I'm allergic to your gifts, so leave me here in peace”–
The antidote is cast aside which could such thoughts release.

And so they walk right off a cliff, or lose all in a flood;
I cannot help them when they hit, or sloshed around in mud;
It grieves my heart – it must grieve Yours, O Lord – You see it all;
And so it's been since Adam ate the apple in the fall.

“Tough love”, the slogan some folks use, when faced with comfort zone –
“Raise up your standards with support, before they leave from home;
Give folks a chance to toughen up, so they will stronger be
When they encounter storms in life, and grim reality.”

But there is more – an antidote must soon be introduced,
So they can part of body be, lest full life be reduced;
For we get sick, then weak, then die, when out of body live,
And think that we don't need those gifts which could assistance give.

I keep forgetting others are not free to live their lives
Around the gifts which we all need if we are to survive;
Our life of peace and quietude here in this land of bliss,
Distracts us from reality until disaster hits.

But we think, “once in hundred years” then soon return to form;
We fail to see humanity spends most of life in storm;
We live on an oasis here, we're buffered from the strife
Which most endure out on the sand of desert most of life.

So mission-fields see great success, we wonder why that is;
We've got it soft; we numb our minds with drugs and liquor's fizz;
We think that we deserve all this, and crave to have some more;
It's upside down and inside out, with crisis at the door.

That kid thought he was smarter, “I the simple life will choose,
Then floods and earthquakes cannot take my things – I cannot lose”;
Perhaps he's right, but let us wait until he is fully grown,
And he must live, and piper pay for cushy life he's known.

For till we're under load in life, what do we understand?
We think we've figured it all out from what we see at hand;
But life is rough, and rougher times are just around the bend,
When rising floods and rocky cliffs bring overwhelming end.

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