The Inner Life

“I thought I was so wonderful”, he said,
“I thought a perfect life was what I led –
But that was while I sat upon my hands,
Today no more that estimate still stands.

“As soon as I stood up (I spastic was),
I crashed about the china-shop because,
I thought – but thought could not control my ways;
I stumbled, crashed about, in work and play.

So I returned to sitting on my chair,
My life’s serene while I am sitting there;
I talk the talk, but cannot walk the walk;
My life resembles Peter’s – called ‘The Rock’.

“He had a high opinion of himself,
Thought he could handle poverty or wealth;
Said he would stand by Jesus to the death,
Denied he knew his friend on second breath.

“I like to think I’m better than appears,
But those who really know me say through tears,
‘He’s nice so long as he’s not entered in,
This rough-and-tumble world of pain and sin’.

“So what’s a fellow now supposed to do?
To enter in is just to play the fool;
If I sit here I certainly will die –
A strange predicament I’m in, say I.”

The man he spoke to said, “I was the same,
Until into my life a Savior came,
Provided me a way to live on Earth,
As spastic man – through death and second birth”

“Oh great!” The first said, “That’s just what I need,
To die just like the farmer’s planted seed;
But how on earth can I bring that about?
You say ‘It’s done’ – so lift from me my doubt.”

The second man replied, “You’re half-way there;
Of doing it you have, I see, despaired;
Just open up to life beyond yourself,
Empowering you to live a life of health.

“A car is nice but only runs with gas,
Though you can push it ’round (but not so fast);
There’s far more power here for you to use;
The hitch for you? To tap it you must choose –

“For God reserves His power for His ways,
He will not stoop to act ‘Because it pays’
He says, ‘Why, go ahead, free world it is;
Free choice is mine as well, in living biz’.

“Start here – your living-space is like the ice
Upon a frozen lake where skating’s nice;
Set up some hockey-boards around your space,
Upon your feet a pair of skates now lace.

“The problem’s not just getting off your chair,
It’s where you'll play – within the boards? Out there?
The choice is yours – but God says, ‘In the boards
For faster, tighter game is my resource’.

“Ten panels make the boundaries of the game,
(Those Ten Commandments, once, for all the same);
And anyone can join the game inside,
If in those ten restrictions they abide.

“Not one, or four, or eight, or nine, but ten,
The panels hold the puck and players in;
So time’s not wasted chasing ’cross the lake,
A puck that’s missed, while others take a break.

“A faster tighter game within the boards,
Describes a moneyed-life where no one hoards;
A life designed for great prosperity,
But one where justice flows, on bended knee.

“It’s not that you’ll be perfect at the game,
Impress your God, for you are just the same;
But He will grace you up into the task,
Provide resource in dojo when you ask.

“Remember,most still play beyond the boards,
And you can too, but just recall my words:
‘Out there, there are no boundaries to stop
The puck, which slows the game down to a walk’.

“The game within the boards is spastic fare –
Come join the game, your limits don’t despair;
It’s fast and tight and competition’s keen,
But overall you’ll play beyond the mean.”

“But what’s the talk of dying to the world?”
“That’s simple – come alive to faster swirl
Within the boards, no more out there to live,
But to the life within, commitment give.”

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