Elegy “For” A Country Churchyard (Genesis 1:27; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12)

It used to be the poem said, “within” not “for” that place,
But selling off those properties these days is a disgrace;
At one per week there’ll be no more in short amount of time;
Accelerate’s what it will do – their fate akin to mine.

No men attend the classes training for their ministry –
All women (whose careers now last seven years) – ’tis sad to see;
They’ve driven out those not like them, one gift now dominates –
“Compassion-person” (Kum-Ba-Ya, while candles light the place).

Don’t get me wrong – compassion is one gift God gave to man;
We’ve got all seven, that’s strongest in those people, and I can
See God as quite compassionate – we’re in His image made
But He is whole, full up of all the gifts – and unafraid –

To be Himself (Herself, they’d say), with balance part of life;
We’re in His image made ourselves, but haven’t got it right –
“Humanity” – “together” – “one” – is in His image made;
Not “us”, “ourselves”, “each gift alone” – and very much afraid.

This plague of “me-myself-and-I” is twisted, sick, and sad;
We hear, “God’s just like me”, I know, and that’s what makes me glad;
Compassion-types drove other gifts to life beyond the pale,
Now wonder why their church implodes like shanties in a gale.

A perfect “Body of our Lord”, through which God’s work is done,
Is not all heart – it’s hands and feet, and eyes and ears – as one
Dynamic, living, entity, with many perfect parts,
With Jesus Christ the head of it – whose Spirit life imparts.

I saw a movie called The Breast – terrific spoof indeed –
One scene abides – this rubber breast came bouncing from the trees,
And out across the countryside – I don’t recall the rest –
I got the point – obsessed some are with disembodied breasts.

For what’s a breast without a life to have and hold, and nurse?
Cut off from life, branch of a vine is done, yet this is worse –
When cancer strikes a woman’s breast, it’s gone, it’s out of here,
For life of larger entity more precious is, that’s clear.

But what if breasts, or arms, or ears, could chuck the body out?
Continue on as entities, and claim without a doubt,
“Made in the image of my God, therefore, God’s just like me –
So take a hike, I don’t need you, a perfect breast I'll be”

Perceivers with their vision keen; and teachers with their books;
The givers with their cash in hand, by others viewed as crooks;
The servers with their crafts and trades; administrators lists;
Encouragers with hockey teams; compassion types in bliss –

Seven gifts – but like that film, The Breast, though excellent in fact,
They’re useless by themselves without community intact;
A perfect hand can’t see at all; nor ear pick pencil up –
Humanity as one, is what reflects God (in the rough).

“If you don’t get that point”, Paul said, “discern ‘a body’ thus,
It’s sick you’ll get, then weak, then die – not ‘I’ and ‘me’, but ‘us’
Is where it’s at” – now take a look at country UCC –
They’re selling off their buildings ’cause “compassion’s” all they see.

Dead Right is film they showed to us while teaching us to drive –
“You may be in the right”, it said, “but best back off, survive,
Without insisting on your way when driving on the street,
Or like that perfect bouncing breast – dead right is what you’ll be.”

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