“Parvenu” [Reflections On Charles H. Parkhurst (ed) Portraits And Principles of The World's Great Men And Women, N.Y. : Springfield:The King-Richardson Co. 1899 - #88/100]
To be a Parvenu, it seems,
Means nouveau riche, in fact;
Like Clampets of the sitcom world –
Salt of the earth – no “Tact”.The “Point-of-view” of speaker is
Judgmental to the core –
“Despicable” springs to my mind
(Describing speaker more).For focus of the word is “skin”,
Not substance underneath;
It factors out to those battles won
As fully life one seeks.You seek for surface, that you’ll gain;
Attain it, you’ll still be
A surface-oriented one,
For still, that’s what you see.For that’s the judgment-basis still,
For self and other folk;
Seek substance in your walk through life,
And you will see the joke –For wealth and riches aren’t the rule
By which one’s movement up
Is measured, they’re the tools of growth,
Without which movement’s tough.If you’ve got piles of cash, resource,
To aid your upward climb,
It is a vast world up ahead
To which you’ve been assigned.And you’ll not do it on your own,
Your team’s “Community”;
So if a surfeit’s given to you,
Dispersal’s task’s for thee.So if you find that part of work
Is not your cup of tea,
Hire one who’s good at it, to do
That for community.And get on with your work and life;
Who cares for surface view?
Engage the tasks you’ve been assigned –
“Christ’s central task” through you.Lord, this suggests so much for me
Not all of it right here;
But bit by bit, as I press on,
Paul’s insight now comes clear.Help me continue to press on
Into Your word for all,
That in the end chaff falls away,
With wheat-seed growing tall.For what I’m hearing through these words
Builds on Keewatin’s tome,
When soul-soil-preparation time
Was opened in my home.But this is different – now You wish
Us to press on once more
To planting crops which harvest brings,
As best-seed is re-stored.Thanks Lord for this.
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