Glue

That social glue's the norm
For churches in a storm –
A social contract tight –
Disturb it – they will fight.

The clergy have their place
So they allow him space;
Two chairs for him abide –
One chair to place his hide.

The other is for when
He visits back again;
He must not interfere
With things which they hold dear.

They know he soon will go,
And secrets he will know,
So give to him a place,
Lest they should know disgrace.

Two years it takes her so,
Before to him they show
Their struggles and their sins,
And let him enter in.

That's if he has their code;
If not, he hits the road;
Five digits work, or four,
To open up their door.

It has to be that way,
At least, that's what they say;
Intruders to the group
Are kept out of the loop.

It's all about the way
They live from day to day:
"How we live out our lives;
What like, and what despise."

All cultures, groups, and kin,
Guard entry to within;
Defend their borders tight,
Of course – it is their right.

"It's how we all elect
To pause and genuflect
To values of one type –
Be sure to get that right."

To find the rest of code,
Look for the mother lode –
Just push for minor change,
Some aspect rearrange.

Alert to how they act,
The code lies in the fact
Their ways peculiar are –
Ask "Why" – it takes you far.

Not "Why you will not change?"
But "Why you act so strange?"
For "Ways" consistent be,
Code didgets there to see.

Tell not their precious code;
Speak to its mother lode;
Respect it's strong taboos;
For then you'll speak Good News.

So Bruchko got their code:
Fear – such their mother lode;
He fed the Gospel in,
New life he let begin.

Code is the part you'll need,
Then you can help indeed –
Peace bring into their hearts,
New life in Christ impart.

So freedom for their town,
There, in the code it's found;
Now with their map of mines,
Just walk right through their lines.

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