Principle #7 – Interdependence

When off to University I went that day,
My father had some guiding words he chose to say:
“You may not be a scholar in their eyes, my son,
And you may not be viewed as great perceptive one –

“But you can learn your way, convert it to their style,
And in the meantime be enriched, and with a smile
Indulge their point of view and way of doing life,
And just ignore their silliness and undue strife.

“But most of all don’t imitate their attitude;
Don’t take their ways of arrogance and being rude;
For they are smart, and have some facts which you can use;
Draw from their stores, yet point of view you need not lose.”

He also pointed out the richness of the Jewish life;
Four thousand years of insight wrought in tragic plight;
“Avail yourself of all its blessings, for it greatly pays
Rich dividends if you will visit there throughout your days.”

Another fellow pointed out how watered down,
The rich tradition of the Jews by us is found;
“It had to be at first”, he said, “so we could bear,
The parts which fed our lives, so it would be quite clear.

“But now it’s best if we go back and hear again,
The larger mix of blessed words wrought out through pain;
We may not scholars be, or quick perceptive folk,
But richness flows from Jewish texts, and quips, and jokes.”

My run-through of the Scripture took me forty years;
My journey through that treasure-trove addressed my fears,
And soothed my soul, gave insight, wisdom, guided me
Into the Spirit-walking life which now I see.

I set my sights on fiction writing ten years hence:
Two years to check it out before too far I went;
Five years to learn the craft and try it out;
Then three to write, rewrite, release – or thereabouts.

That journey took me through the years of MRD;
Through Andrew Murray’s insight which affected me;
I checked him out through Scripture, then reviewed my notes,
And saw a novel could be used to share with folks.

That forced me to go back to learn of Pharisees,
If I were now to write a book which public sees;
That opened up my Christian world to larger view,
And gave a twist to Judas which I never knew.

Now I think back to when I headed off to school,
To father’s words to me – he was no fool;
Far richer is my life for all the folks I’ve met –
Those scholars and perceivers I’m not like – and yet –

By heeding all their words and insights gathered up,
And letting each perspective new fill up my cup,
My thirst for wisdom, knowledge, ways of doing life,
Is quenched – and now it turns my work to something nice.

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