The Old Curiosity Shop

A game I play with footloose folks
Who come to chat – like opening jokes
For speakers on the circuit do –
It gives a twist, an opening view:

I say, “I’ve got this job for you;
It’s yours, not mine – for you to do –
Of it, what do you wish to know,
That you about this work might go?”

Of course as we live our career,
Our list of items grows more dear;
“I’ll ask more questions next time ’round”,
We say as job conditions pound –

The zest and joy from working life;
So here’s my list – lest there be strife,
For lists have reasons (why we ask
About each aspect of our task).

What is it that you have in mind?
Must I be gentle, sweet, and kind?
Is it another rip-off task?
Are things out front, or must I ask? –

Or worse, “Don’t ask, just comprehend
How our tribe works around each bend;
Sense ‘movement of the herd’, or scram,
As we traverse this rugged land.”

What hours? What days? Flex time or fixed?
Results produce? – or process-mix
Which I must do? (please pick which one).
Is this a bore or lots of fun?

Am I inside with no fresh air?
Or romping around without a care?
Group meetings? (form not function there –
Are they to work, or just show care?)

Can I do here my bucket list?
If I’m not there, will I be missed?
Whose game is this? How far their sight?
Perceiver type? Know wrong from right?

About the cash – got open books,
So all can see how future looks?
Is this a game of make-believe?
What happens when I take my leave?

What of the vision (for us all)?
Just laying bricks or building wall?
A wall restraining hills of dirt?
Or wall as part of massive church?

If wall or church, how does it fit
With what’s around where it will sit?
Are queries welcomed any time?
Or must we smile and say, “That’s fine”.

Can we reflect? Adjust our course,
As we deploy our scant resource?
Is this group ‘loose’ or ‘firm’? – that is,
Must all comply within this biz?

What is the tone of life within?
Inclined to good, or clever sin?
A stretch for highest and the best?
Or chug along just like the rest?

Will I get time to do my life?
My stress increase, or drop? (For wife
I have –  the one whom I adore,
We’re dropping stress – not adding more).

I could go on and on, because
I’ve done a lot in life (which was
Quite good within this messed-up world,
At times quite rough in cyclone’s swirl).

But I can trade off parts of list,
Or all of it – I don’t insist
On process items, if the chore
Is worth the cost (if wanted more).

For life is short, and my good days
Front-loaded are in many ways;
Life twists and turns, I do not stand
On boggy ground, or shifting sand –

But rather, on this Rock I live;
Branch of a Vine – its fruit I give;
Part of a Body; here and There;
My life is His – my acts, His care.

But as I think back on my days,
"God speaks with us in several ways",
One said to me long years ago,
“God wants us all His ways to know –

“He uses three, not just one way
To speak with us from day to day:
One’s Scripture – words brought fresh to life
By Spirit’s work – with insight bright.

“Then prayer – and that’s ten thousand ways
He speaks with us throughout our days,
Depending on our temperament,
And how we’re built, emotion’s bent.

“And then, of course activity;
Through other folks we hear and see
Enough sometimes to change our ways,
Conforming life to how He plays.”

Five things I am (that’s be, not do);
Five tools I use – that’s tools for you;
Five things through me God then effects,
To do three tasks, two done – one left.

You might be wise to ask about
Those items, though I do not doubt
You’ll notice two are done through me,
And one is how I’m built to be –

That leaves a list of tools I use,
Not all the time, but when I choose;
And one – my “Wand-Of-Wonder” tool –
A hundred things fulfills, as fool –

For “Jester-class” as some would say,
Is what I am, contrary way;
My world is down-side-up you’ll find,
To some a pain, some do not mind.

Since diagnosis I don’t care;
Life’s silliness not here or there;
And as I grow through mentorship,
In much of life I do not fit.

And yet, if you will look around,
Life follows me, springs from the ground,
As into soil the seed is sown –
Strange miracles of life are grown.

It’s not so much the things I do,
Or if I come and work for you
In normal sense – God works through me
For you – if you have eyes to see.

So, job for me? Sure, we can talk,
Not selling me – ask, “In our walk,
What’s keeping you from doing that?”
Enough – signed, Satisfaction’s Cat.

navigation