I HAVE A RELUCTANCE
TO DWELL ON THIS READING
I THINK IT’S BECAUSE
OF HOW MUCH
I MISS THE MARK
I REMEMBER
AS A YOUNG MARRIED FATHER
I WAS ASKED TO GO WATER SKIING
I TURNED IT DOWN
MY REASONING
WHO WOULD TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY
IF I WAS HURT
THAT LINE OF REASONING
IS WHY
SOME MEN WON’T TAKE A STAND
NOW JESUS SETS A HIGH BAR
FOR THOSE WANTING TO JOIN HIS SERVICE
BUT MOST OF THE TIME
HE HAS TO SETTLE
FOR SOMETHING
LESS THAN HIS STANDARDS
FIRST HE SAYS
MEASURE THE COST
BE WILLING TO THROW YOURSELF
AS BONHOEFFER SAYS
UNDER THE WHEELS OF INJUSTICE
TO STOP IT
LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD
ODD SENTENCE
SEEMS A WORD IS MISSING
OR WRONG
COMMENTARIES
SHOW DISPARATE INTERPRETATIONS
HERE IS MINE
IN BIBLICAL TIMES
BURIAL SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN A DAY
MEANING IF THE ELDEST SON
WAS AT A DISTANCE
HE COULDN’T BE THERE
HOWEVER A YEAR LATER
ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BURIAL
THE TOMB WOULD BE OPENED
THE REMAINING BONES
WOULD BE PLACE IN AN OSSUARY
OR BONE JAR
THIS SECOND BURIAL
WOULD HAVE A FIXED POINT IN TIME
AND COULD BE SCHEDULED BY THE ELDEST SON
THIS I THINK
IS WHY THE DISCIPLE
IS ASKING FOR LEAVE
THIS I THINK
WAS ONE OF CHRIST’S PROBLEMS
THE JEWS
HAD SURROUNDED THEMSELVES
WITH TRADITIONS
THAT HAD BECOME LAW
LIKE WASHING HANDS BEFORE SHUCKING CORN
OR HEALING ON THE SABBATH
I THINK WHAT CHRIST IS SAYING
WHEN THE MOLD IMPEDES THE KINGDOM
BREAK THE MOLD
SO HE SAID TO THE YOUNG MAN
LET THE DEAD TO CHANGE
BURY THEIR OWN DEAD
BUT YOU GO
AND PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD
TO THE OTHER YOUNG MAN HE SAID
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE GOAL
USING A FARMING ADAGE
YOU CAN’T PLOW A STRAIGHT ROW LOOKING BACK
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE GOAL
JESUS
I AM IMPERFECT
BY YOUR STANDARDS
TAKE ME
A BROKEN
DULL EDGED TOOL
AND USE ME
AND HELP ME
TO REMEMBER
THAT LOVE OF YOU
IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN SCHOLARLY PURSUITS
FRANK A VOLLMER
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