LYMPHOMANIA ...the musical

 

 

 

 

 

 

LYMPHOMANIA

 

 

 

THE MUSICAL

 

 

 

 

BY

 

FRANK A VOLLMER

 

 

BEING A REFLECTION

ON HIS CANCER

AND SUBSEQUENT ILL HEALTH

 

 

 

AUTUMN NOW

 

ON LEARNING HE HAD LYMPHOMA

 

I AM MORE IN TUNE WITH AUTUMN NOW

I HAVE FELT WINTER'S FIRST CHILL

AND COULD NOT GET WARM

BUT I AM MORE IN TUNE WITH AUTUMN NOW

 

I HAVE WONDERED AT THE MARVEL OF THE LEAVES

AT THE BEAUTY OF THEIR PASSING

AND THEIR RELUCTANCE TO LET GO

RELUCTANT TO LEAVE THOSE THEY CARE ABOUT

BECAUSE I LOVE

AND AM LOVED

THEREBY SHARING IN THE DIVINITY

 

AND IN FACING THE DIVINITY

KNOW

THAT NOT EVERY DAY WAS PERFECT

EVERY DAY

WEEK

MONTH

YEAR

EVERY PAGE

CHAPTER

BOOK

EVERY I NOT DOTTED

EVERY T NOT CROSSED

AND WHEN DONE

NOT DONE WELL

WINTER THOUGHTS

WINTER THOUGHTS

BUT I AM IN TUNE WITH AUTUMN NOW

 

I ASK THE PAST FOR FORGIVENESS

TO LET ME LAY MY BURDEN DOWN

KNOWING THAT FORGIVENESS

IS ALSO REQUIRED OF ME

IF I WOULD LAY MY BURDEN DOWN

 

 

 

 

 

BUT THE DAYS OF AUTUMN ARE NOT OVER

OH THAT I COULD MAKE MY AUTUMN BEAUTIFUL

TO CLING TENACIOUSLY TO THE TREE

NEITHER WILLING DEPARTURE

IN MIND OR BODY

OR THE LEAVING OF LOVED ONES

 

UNTIL CALLED BY THAT GREAT SUMMONS

TO BEGIN

THAT PEACEFUL

NOSTALGIC

ACCEPTING

JOURNEY HOME

 

BUT

AS FOR NOW

I AM MORE IN TUNE WITH AUTUMN NOW

AND THERE IS SERENITY IN MY SOUL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THAT WORD

 

WHEN THE DOCTOR FIRST SAID THAT WORD

IT WAS AS IF THE WORLD HAD STOPPED

 

A CLICHÉ MOST TIMES

EXCEPT WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU

 

BUT IT ONLY HAPPENS TO YOU

 

ALL AROUND YOU

EVERYONE ELSE

WAS GOING ON

WITH THEIR JOURNEYS

ONE OF WHICH WAS THE DOCTOR'S TASK

OF TELLING ME

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME

 

AND AS HE SPOKE

A DIFFERENT DIRECTION

WAS GIVEN TO MY JOURNEY

 

NO TRAVELING

IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE

AT THIS TIME

 

WE NEED THE FOLLOWING TESTS

DONE IMMEDIATELY

TILL A WEEK OF TESTS

HAD GONE BY

WHICH WHEN READ

REQUIRED MORE TESTS

A BIOPSY

AND A SHUNT INSTALLED

 

IT'S ALL DONE NOW

AND I SIT NOW

AS IF BEFORE A MAGIC CUP

CHALICE

GRAIL

A MAGIC CUP OF HEALING POISON

 

IT REMINDS ME OF GRACE

DESTROYING SIN

BUT NOT THE SINNER

 

DESTROYING A PART OF ME

TO LEAVE ME WHOLE

 

THIS IS NOT THE CUP

THAT I WOULD CHOOSE TO DRINK

IF I COULD

I WOULD SAY

FATHER TAKE THIS CUP

 

BUT THIS CUP IS A NECESSARY ONE

THAT I MUST DRINK

 

I FEEL LIKE PETER

WHEN JESUS SAID

SOMEONE ELSE WILL DRESS

AND LEAD YOU

 

SHELTER ME AS I DRINK THIS POTION

SURELY YOUR GOODNESS

AND KINDNESS

HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WITH ME

AND I REST IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

LIKE BABY BIRD

BEING FED BY ITS MOTHER

 

 

 

 

 

THE NAMING OF PILLS

 

TODAY WE HAD THE NAMING OF PILLS

BUT FIRST WE HAD THE DISMISSAL OF PILLS

THE MULTI VITAMIN AND THE E

GONE

AS IF IN DISGRACE

THEY HAD NOT PREVENTED THE CONDITION

 

A BIT OF WHIMSY THERE

 

ACTUALLY THE WERE NOT COMPATIBLE

WITH THE NEW

 

ONE TO KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING

ONE FOR NAUSEA

IF I NEED IT

ONE TO KEEP MY SYSTEM HEALTHY

ONE TO ATTACK THE TUMOR

BUT THIS ONE WE NUMBER AMONG THE PILLS

 

THE PILLS ARE LOWLY SERVANTS

INFERIOR TO THE INFUSIONS

WHICH HAVE A BETTER PRESS

 

BUT ALL IN ALL A TOXIC COCKTAIL

BOTTOMS UP

AND HAIR LOSS TOO

HOW COULD I BE SO LUCKY

 

THE JOURNEY STARTS

A HESITANT STEP

THE DRINKS ARE SERVED

 

TO YOUR HEALTH GOOD SIR

I'LL DRINK TO THAT

 

 

 

 

 

THE BEST SEEMS TO BE

TAKE IT AND MAKE IT WORK

TO TRY TO BE AT PEACE

 

SO I AM DOWN

AMONG THE STONES

AMONG THE ROCKS

QUIET AND PEACEFUL IN THIS PLACE

BETWEEN THE TIDES

BETWEEN INFUSIONS

I AM OPEN

TO THE WHISPERINGS OF THE SPIRIT

WHICH STRANGELY SOUND

LIKE THE SIBILANT SOUNDS OF THE SEA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND ON THE HILLTOP

YOU DESTROYED THE CANCER OF…

THERE I'VE SAID THE WORD

YOU DESTROYED THE CANCER OF MY SIN

YOU SET ME FREE

TO LIVE A HOLY AND A WHOLLY LIFE

 

AND ON MY HILLTOP

LET ME SAY WITH YOU

FATHER IT IS FINISHED

CURED OR AT LEAST IN REMISSION

 

AND WE SHALL WALK

OUR EASTER MORNINGS

SIDE BY SIDE

 

FRIENDS AS ALWAYS

WE HAVE WALKED

THROUGH THE DARK PORTAL

AND FOUND SUN SHINE

 

 

BUT FIRST

WHEN PILATE SAID THE C WORD TO YOU JESUS

DID YOU STEP BACK

BLINK

PRAY FOR COURAGE

DID THE WORLD GO AWAY FOR AN INSTANT

 

SAYING YES LORD JESUS

ENDEARS YOU TO MY HEART

BECAUSE SO DID I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DRUID ROCKS - THE TREATMENT ROOM

 

WE WERE SITTING ROUND THE WALLS

LIKE DRUID ROCKS

WAITING FOR THE SOLSTICE

 

ONE CHAIR MISSING

THROUGH WHICH THE PRIESTESS CAME

DISPENSING THE MAGIC FLUID

THE EYE OF THE NEWT

THE TAIL OF A DRAGON

THE HEALING POISON

 

AND WE SIT IN A RING

AROUND THE ROOM

LIKE DRUID ROCKS

WAITING FOR THE SOLSTICE

 

LIKE DRUIDS SITTING IN A RING

PRAYING TO THE GODS

THAT THE DAYLIGHT WOULD STAY

OR THAT THE DAYLIGHT WOULD COME BACK

 

DRUIDS SITTING IN A RING

TRYING TO PLACATE AN ANGRY GOD

 

DRUIDS SITTING IN A RING

WHILE THE PRIESTESS

CHECKS OUR PULSE

OUR BLOOD PRESSURE

AND OUR TEMPERATURE

WHETHER WE ARE THIRSTY

OR ANY OTHER NEED

DRUIDS SITTING IN A RING

 

I AM PART OF THAT RING

BUT MY GOD IS NOT ANGRY

WHERE TWO OR THREE…

FOR WE ARE GATHERED IN HIS NAME

EVEN THOUGH SOME OF US MAY NOT KNOW IT

 

 

DRUIDS SITTING IN A RING

LOOKING PAST THE WITCH'S BREW

KNOWING THAT NO MATTER HOW DARK THE DAY

THE SUN IS SHINING

AND WILL NOT GO AWAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOOD MORNING BROTHER ASS

 

ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI DIED AT THE AGE OF 44 AFTER INCREASING ILL HEALTH, DUE IN PART TO THE WAY HE MISTREATED BROTHER ASS, AS HE CALLED HIS BODY.

 

 

 

 

GOOD MORNING BROTHER ASS

HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING

 

BROTHER MULE IF YOU DON'T MIND

 

AH WE'RE INTO PROPRIETY TODAY ARE WE

 

ONLY FITTING

AFTER THE INDIGNITIES YOU PUT ME THROUGH

 

I'M ONLY DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU

AND ME

 

WELL ANYWAY

I'D RATHER BE KNOWN AS BROTHER MULE TODAY

 

TODAY AND EVERYDAY IF YOU SO DESIRE

 

OH DON'T BE SO POMPOUS

SOMETIMES YOU ACT LIKE AN ASS

 

BROTHER ASS IF YOU DON'T MIND

THIS SOUNDS LIKE A CONVERSATION

RUNNING AROUND IN A CIRCLE

SHALL WE BEGIN AGAIN

 

GOOD MORNING BROTHER MULE

 

GOOD MORNING BROTHER SOUL

 

SHALL WE BEGIN BY TAKING OUR PILLS

AS A SIGN OF PROMISE FOR THE DAY

YOU SEEM DOWN BROTHER MULE

 

I HAVE A QUESTION

 

ASK AWAY

YOU WILL NOT LEAVE ME WILLY-NILLY

AS IF YOU DIDN'T CARE

 

YOU HAVE MY WORD

WE WILL NOT PART BY CHOICE

SHALL WE BEGIN OUR DAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOSPITAL GOWN

 

 

MY FRONT BEING PROPERLY HIDDEN

I SHALL NOT MENTION IT

BUT IN THE REAR

MY DERRIERE

PROVOKES LAUGHTER

 

AND AMUSEMENT

 

I DO NOT SHARE

 

MODESTY IS OUT THE WINDOW

ALAS ALACK ALAY

ANY ONE HAVE A SAFETY PIN

IT WOULD REALLY SAVE THE DAY

HOLDING CANE

AND CATHETER

I DO NOT HAVE A HAND

TO HIDE

MY

(FOR OTHERS)

AMUSING BUTT

AND SO I STAND A GAPING

FOR ALL THE WORLD TOO SEE

BUT SEE NO ONE’S LOOKING

AT MY

HEINIE

OR ME

 

 

MISTY LAND

 

 

IN THIS MISTY LAND IN WHICH I DWELL

PRODUCT OF FATIGUE AND CHEMICALS

THE CAROLS COME

THE CAROLS GO

ECHOES NOT QUITE RIGHTLY HEARD

EXCEPT THE ONES

THAT TALK OF SIMPLER THINGS

A MAN

A WOMAN

AND A BABY

WORKING AGAINST THE ODDS

WITH HELP FROM GOOD HEARTED PEOPLE

 

THE CHRISTMAS STORY REDUCED

TO A WOMAN

HOLDING HER BABY

USING HER BODY TO KEEP IT WARM

WHILE THE HUSBAND TENDS THE FIRE

AND FEEDS HIS WIFE

THEIR MEAGER MEAL

BUT IN THE JOY OF THE BABY

THEY KNOW NO PRIVATION

 

I WANTED TO SAY

THAT MARY'S HANDLING OF THE ANGEL'S MESSAGE

WHAT YOU WANT OF ME GOD

DO

WHAT IS WITHIN ME

MAY IT BEAR FRUIT

 

WHAT I WANTED TO SAY

IS THAT

MY OWN ACCEPTANCE IS SIMILAR

 

BUT IT IS TOO BIG A STRETCH

INSTEAD I WANT TO SAY

YES TO GOD

NOT AS A SLAVE

BUT AS A LOVED ONE

 

YES TO GOD

THAT I WILL DILIGENTLY FOLLOW

WHERE I AM LED

AND WILLINGLY ACCEPT

THE OUTCOME

 

SO FROM THIS MISTY LAND

WHERE NOW I DWELL

WHERE I FEEL LIKE THE BABY

WARMED BY ALL THE LOVE AROUND ME

 

WHILE I WAIT FOR THE MIST TO CLEAR

I WISH YOU ALL OF YOU

THAT ARE HOLDING ME

CLOSE TO YOUR HEART

I WISH FOR YOU

THE BABY'S BLESSINGS

AND ASK

THAT HIS TINY HANDS

BEGRIME YOUR SOUL

WITH MARKS OF LOVE

PEACE

JOY AND UNDERSTANDING

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHO.....

 

WHERE HAVE I BEEN

WHERE HAVE I BEEN WANDERING

IN THE DESERT

IN THE WARRENS OF CHEMO

WHERE WORDS DO NOT MAKE SENSE

AND SENTENCES DO NOT CONNECT

 

BUT WHO HAS PRAYED FOR ME

WHEN I WAS ELSEWHERE

AND KNOW THE ANSWER IN THE QUESTION

 

BANDS OF ANGELS HOVERING

ALL THE SAINTS ARE GATHERED

 

BEHOLD WHO YOU ARE

THE BODY OF CHRIST

NOT GUARANTEED SAFE JOURNEY

BIT JOINED WITH THAT GREAT COMPANY

GUARANTEED SAFE DELIVERY

 

WE ARE STILL IN TREATMENT

THE DOCTOR CLINGS TO ME

LIKE A LOVER HE WILL NOT LET GO

NEW TREATMENTS ARE TO FOLLOW

A LOW POINT THERE

I THOUGHT I WAS DONE

TILL I WAS TOLD

REST AWHILE

THEN WE START AGAIN

DOWN A DIFFERENT PATH

DOWN WHICH I WILL GO

JOYFULLY BURDENED

BY ALL WHO HOLD ME IN THEIR HEART

AND PRAYER

 

WHO PRAYS FOR YOU

WHEN YOU CANNOT PRAY

GOD DOES

AND ALL HIS FRIENDS

 

BEHOLD WHO YOU ARE

THE BODY OF CHRIST

 

AND ALL THE ASSEMBLY SINGS

HOLY

HOLY

HOLY

A SOUND THAT RESONATES

WHEN ALL OTHER SOUNDS HAVE FADED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS 121/TAPS/ NIGHT PRAYER

 

 

ALL IS WELL

SAFELY REST

GOD IS NIGH

 

HE DOES NOT SLEEP OR SLUMBER

 

WATCHING ALL THE NIGHT

 

HE IS MY GUIDE AND PATHFINDER

 

MY FOOT SHALL NOT SLIP

 

THE BREEZE COMES DOWN THE MOUNTAIN

 

COOLING THE VALLEY AND DESERT BELOW

 

HE GUARDS ME FROM THE NIGHT DEMONS

 

AND THE EFFECTS OF THE MOON

 

HE NEITHER SLUMBERS NOR SLEEPS

 

HE WATCHES OVER ME

 

MY GOING IN AND GOING OUT

 

HE IS MY SHADE IN THE SUN

 

AND MY SHAWL FOR THE NIGHT CHILL

 

HE NEITHER SLUMBERS NOR SLEEPS

 

ALL IS WELL

SAFELY REST

GOD IS NIGH

 

AND NEVER SLEEPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

WERE THERE NOT TEN HEALED…

 

 

 

FORGIVE ME LORD

I HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF POOR THINKING

 

WHEN I RECOVERED

AT LEAST TO EXTENT

I CAN RECOVER

DID I SAY THANK YOU

I WISH I COULD SAY YES

 

BUT LIKE A MAN

WHOSE VACATION

IS MARRED BY RAIN

AND FEELS HIS VACATION RUINED

FORGETS THE BEAUTIFUL DAYS HE DID HAVE

THEY MIGHT AS WELL NOT HAVE EXISTED

 

SO I THANK YOU LORD

FOR LIMITED RECOVERY

AND NO MIRACLES

EXCEPT THE DAILY BEAUTY OF EACH DAY

 

FORGIVE ME LORD

I HAVE NOT BEEN A GOOD SERVANT

BUT UNGRATEFUL

AND MAY BE AGAIN

 

BUT FOR NOW

THANK YOU LORD

 

 

 

WERE THERE NOT TEN HEALED…

 

 

 

 

 

ABC……

 

THE PROBLEM IS

THAT WHEN THE MEDICINE

IS WORKING

IT CLOUDS THE MIND

AND PRAYING BECOMES DIFFICULT

AND SOMETIMES INCOHERENT

 

THE LEGEND IS

THAT THE JEWISH SHEPHERD

COMING HOME FROM THE HILLS

TO SPEND SABBATH WITH HIS FAMILY

COUNTED HIS SHEEP AND FOUND ONE MISSING

SENDING HIS SON AHEAD WITH THE FLOCK

HE RETURNED TO THE HILL

RACING THE STAR

THAT TOLD THE BEGINNING OF SABBATH

HE FOUND THE SHEEP

AND LOST THE RACE

AND TRUE TO HIS FAITH

SPENT SABBATH ON THE HILLSIDE

WITH HIS SHEEP

 

ON COMING HOME

HIS WIFE ASKED

HOW ARE YOU HUSBAND

WELL HE SAID

IT WAS AN INTERESTING

DISQUIETING TIME

HOW SHE SAID

 

I WAS ANXIOUS TO FIND MY SHEEP

I WAS HURRYING AND SWEATING

THEN THE SWEAT WENT COLD

AND THE SHEEP AND I HUDDLED BY THE FIRE

NEVER SEEMING TO GET WARM

I SAW IN THE FLAME

YOUR BEAUTIFUL SABBATH MEAL

I WANTED TO BE HOME SO MUCH

IN THE WARMTH OF MY HOME AND FAMILY

 

 

 

 

 

I WANTED TO PRAY

BUT THE WORDS SPILLED OUT

IN AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE KALEIDOSCOPE

OF FEELING

OF WANTING

OF DISAPPOINTMENT

 

SO WHAT DID YOU DO MY HUSBAND

 

I SAID THE ALPHABET

FIGURING GOD COULD MAKE THE WORDS

 

THE PROBLEM IS

THE MEDICINE MAKES THE MIND GROW DIM

 

A

B

C

D……

 

AMEN

 

 

 

 

 

 



(MATTHEW 5:38-48).....DEAD SILENCE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEAD SILENCE

 

THERE WAS A PHENOMENON

REPORTED BY THE SURVIVORS

OF THE ATOMIC BOMBING OF JAPAN

 

IT WAS

THERE WAS DEAD SILENCE

BETWEEN THE FLASH OF THE BOMB EXPLODING

AND THE DESTRUCTION THAT FOLLOWED

 

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIGHT AND SOUND

LIKE LIGHTENING AND THUNDER

 

DEAD SILENCE

BUT DID NOT GOD CRY OUT

 

CREATION

MY CREATION

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE

TO MY CREATION

 

I HAVE NO ARGUMENT

WITH THOSE

WHO SAY THE BOMBING WAS NECESSARY

 

AFTER THE ISLAND HOPPING

TARAWA

SAIPAN

IWO JIMA

AND OTHERS

WHERE OUR LOSSES

ALMOST EQUALED

THE JAPANESE

 

AFTER BEING IN JAPAN

WITH ITS MOUNTAIN TOPOGRAPHY

AND A PEOPLE DEDICATED TO THE EMPEROR

AND COUNTRY

AGAINST THE WORLD’S BEST DEFENSIVE FIGHTER

 

INVASION BY OUR FORCES

WOULD HAVE BEEN A SUICIDE MISSION

FOR THEM

 

NO

MY THOUGHTS HAVE TO DO WITH THE AFTEREFFECTS

 

WE ARE TOLD TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES

 

I KNOW I’M NOT THE BEST SPOKESMAN FOR THAT IDEA

 

I WANT TO SAY

THEY STARTED IT

 

JESUS SAYS FORGIVE

RATHER HE SAYS

DO NOT REJOICE

AT THE DEATH OF YOUR FOE

 

LET YOUR HEART BE SAD

THAT THERE HAS TO BE DEATH AT ALL

FRIEND OR FOE

 

SO MANY CHOICES IN LIFE

ARE BETWEEN TWO EVILS

 

I FEEL POWERLESS

IN GOD’S DICTUM

LOVE

 

I PRAY THAT I MAY BE FORGIVING

AS A START

 

THERE WAS A PHENOMENON

REPORTED BY THE SURVIVORS

OF THE ATOMIC BOMBING OF JAPAN

 

IT WAS

THERE WAS DEAD SILENCE

BETWEEN THE FLASH OF THE BOMB EXPLODING

AND THE DESTRUCTION THAT FOLLOWED

 

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIGHT AND SOUND

LIKE LIGHTENING AND THUNDER

 

DEAD SILENCE

BUT DID NOT GOD CRY OUT

 

CREATION

MY CREATION

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE

TO MY CREATION

 

FRANK A VOLLMER

(Acts 17:28 )......GOD REMEMBERS

 

 

 

 

I EXIST BECAUSE GOD REMEMBERS ME

IF HE DIDN’T

I WOULDN’T EVEN BE A PILE OF DUST

 

GOD LOVES

AND LIVES IN HIS CREATION

 

THE WORLD CANNOT HOLD HIM

YET HE DWELLS IN A GRAIN OF SAND

 

ALL THAT IS CREATED BY HIM

IS SACRED

AND SHOULD BE HONORED

 

THE EARTH SHOULD BE HONORED

BY TENDER CARE

ITS YIELD SHOULD BE SHARED BY ALL

 

ALL LIVING THINGS SHOULD BE HONORED

AGAIN

THEIR YIELD SHOULD BE SHARED BY ALL

 

AND MAN SHOULD BE HONORED

THE TOP OF CREATION

THERE SHOULD BE NO KILLING

ON GOD’S HOLY MOUNTAIN

 

NO MAN SHOULD BE

HUNGRY

NAKED

OR POOR

NO MAN SHOULD BEG FOR WATER

BECAUSE WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN

 

WE ARE A SWIM WITH GOD

IN HIM WE LIVE

MOVE

HAVE OUR BEING

 

EACH OF US COULD WEAR A SIGN

SAYING

I AM GOD’S FAVORITE

 

HE REMEMBERS

 

 

FRANK A VOLLMER

 

 

 

 

 



Isaiah 40:22 DOES GOD NEED A CHAMPION



 

 

DOES GOD NEED A CHAMPION

 

IN AUSCHWITZ

THEY PUT GOD ON TRIAL

FOR BEING SILENT

 

THEY FOUND HIM

 

GUILTY

 

I WAS AGHAST

FEARED LIGHTNING

 

BUT THEN LIGHTNING

WOULD BE A PLEASANT INTERLUDE

FROM

GASSING AND STARVATION

 

MAYBE IT WAS THE HUNGER

 

BUT I HEARD A VOICE

 

I DON’T NEED A CHAMPION

 

I HAVE GIVEN YOU THE WORLD

TO DO WITH AS YOU WILL

 

KEEP THE LAWN MOWED

OR

LET THE WEEDS GROW

 

 

I DO NOT PERMIT EVIL

 

EVIL

IS THE ABSENCE OF ME

 

DO NOT BLAME ME

FOR THE WEEDS

YOU HAVE LET GROW

 

IF I CAME AGAIN

YOU’D KILL ME AGAIN

 

IT IS TIME

TO TEND YOUR GARDEN

 

FRANK A VOLLMER

(Romans 2:15) CAT

 

 

CAT

 

WE HAVE A CAT

WHO CAME TO US

AS A STRAY KITTEN

AT CHRISTMAS TIME

 

PROBABLY

A YULE TIME PRESENT ESCAPEE

OUT THE DOOR AND LOST

 

WE TRIED TO FIND THE OWNER

NO RESULT

WE CALLED THE SHELTER

 

THEY SAID THEY HAD SO MANY CATS

THEY WERE EUTHANIZING THE SURPLUS

 

BY THAT TIME

SHE HAD WORMED HER WAY

INTO OUR HEART

AND STAYED

 

I MARVELED

THAT SO YOUNG A CAT

WITH NO MOTHER

WOULD DO CAT THINGS

 

LIKE DOING OBEISANCE

TO THE OLDER CAT

WAITING UNTIL IT WAS FED

BEFORE EATING

 

TEASING THE DOG

 BY BATTING HIM

THEN RUNNING AWAY

 

CHASING FLIES

CATNIP MICE

TELLING OUTDOOR CATS

THIS WAS HER DOMAIN

 

I KNOW IT WAS INSTINCT

BUT STILL IT WAS MARVELOUS

TO SEE

 

 

THE CHURCH IN ROMANS

SAYS

(Romans 2:15)

 

(WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES

IS WRITTEN ON THEIR HEARTS,

 WHILE THEIR CONSCIENCE

ALSO BEARS WITNESS

AND THEIR CONFLICTING THOUGHTS

ACCUSE OR PERHAPS EXCUSE THEM)

 

WHAT THE CAT DOES INSTINCTIVELY

MAN MUST DO BY DECISION

 

TO DO IT LIKE THE CAT

WOULD TO BE LIKE A ROBOT

 

TO BURY YOURSELF IN JESUS

IS NOT TO BE AN AUTOMATON

BUT TO ACT AND DO

WHAT WE KNOW IS RIGHT

 

TO DO OTHERWISE

IS TO DENY HIS INDWELLING

 

WHAT IS WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS

 

I TRIED VERY HARD

TO NOT GET TOO FOND OF HER

 

BUT

THERE IS SOMEONE KNOCKING

AT THE DOOR

 

I DON'T WANT TO GET UP

SHE’S ASLEEP IN MY LAP

 

 

FRANK A VOLLMER

(MATTHEW 5:23-24) WHEN YOU COME TO THE ALTAR

 

 

 

 

WHEN YOU COME TO THE ALTAR

HOW MANY TIMES
HAVE WE COME TO THE ALTAR

AND NOT CALLED TO MIND
THE ADMONITION

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING
AGAINST YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER
GO FIRST TO THEM
AND SETTLE IT

THEN COME TO ME

YOU HAVE ASKED FORGIVENESS
BUT WOULD NOT GRANT IT

WOULD YOU LIKE
YOU
AS YOUR GOD
NOT ME

WOULD YOU DO BETTER
WOULD ANYONE SERVE YOU
WILLINGLY

YOU COME TO THE ALTAR
WITHOUT THOUGHT
AND THE BREAD
TASTES DRY
ON YOUR TONGUE

BUT COME WITH A FORGIVING HEART

THE LORD WILL FILL YOUR HEART WITH SWEETNESS

 

 

FRANK A VOLLMER


SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

 

 

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

 

WE LEARNED TWO WORDS

IN SUNDAY SCHOOL

TODAY

 

CATAPHATIC

 

WHICH LITERALLY MEAN

CATA = DESCEND

FEMI = TO SPEAK

 

IN LAYMEN’S LANGUAGE IT MEANS

TO BRING GOD DOWN

 IN SUCH A WAY

SO AS TO SPEAK OF HIM

 

AND

APOPHATIC

 

.WHICH LITERALLY MEANS

APO = NOT

FEMI = TO SPEAK      

IN LAYMEN’S LANGUAGE IT MEANS

. TO SAY NO

 

THESE POSITIONS WERE FIRST PUT FORWARD

BY

PSEUDO-DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE

 

WHO LIVED ABOUT 550 AD

IN HIS BOOK

ON THE DIVINE NAMES

 

CHURCHES WHICH ARE CLEAR

OF ANY RITUAL OR SYMBOLS

ARE CLOSE TO THE CATAPHATIC OUTLOOK

WHILE CHURCHES WHICH LEAN

TOWARD SYMBOLS OR RITUALS

ARE MORE APOPHATIC

 

BECAUSE SO MANY CHURCHES

HAVE AMALGAMATED THEIR BELIEFS

THERE OFTEN IS NO CLEAR DISTINCTION

AS TO WHICH SCHOOL THEY FOLLOW

 

SOME SPIRITUAL TEACHERS

ADVISE

TO FOLLOW A MIDDLE PATH

BETWEEN THESE TWO CONCEPTS

 

LIKE ODYSSEUS

BETWEEN CHARYBDIS AND SCYLLA

 

OTHERS

INCLUDING THE EASTERN CHURCH

THERE  SHOULD BE A DIAGONAL PATH

BETWEEN THE TWO CONCEPTS

 

STARTING FROM THE CONCRETE

TO THE INEFFABLE

 

WHICH POINT I AM TRYING TO REACH

 

AS I HAVE SAID

IN MY POEM

 

SURFBIRD

.

 

THE SEA CAME IN THE LITTLE BIRD RAN

AND FOLLOWED THE SEA BACK OUT

THEN RAN FROM THE SEA AND FOLLOWED IT OUT

DANCING THE DAY IN TIME TO THE SEA

PLAYING FOR FOOD

 

I WONDER IF IT FEARS THE SEA

LIKE I DO GOD

PLAYING THE EDGES OF HIS LOVE

OR MY LOVE REALLY AS IT EBBS AND FLOWS

RUNNING WHEN THE WAVE COMES STRONG

SEABIRDS ON DELICATE FEET

RUNNING FROM THE WATER

 

SOMEDAY HOPEFULLY UNAWARE

THE SEA WILL OVERWHELM ME

SWEEPING ME OUT TO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA

TO BE ONE WITH THE MOTION THE SURGE OF THE SEA

TO BE THE SEA

 

TO PLAY WITH THE BIRDS AT THE WATER'S EDGE

TO FEED THEM

AND CALL THEM TO THE DANCE

 

 

FRANK A VOLLMER

 

 

 

                              

 

 

Cataphatic (sometimes spelled kataphatic) theology is the expressing of God or the divine through positive terminology. This is in contrast to defining God or the divine in what God is not, which is referred to as negative or apophatic theology. The word cataphatic itself is formed from two Greek words, "cata" meaning to descend and "femi" meaning to speak. Thus, to combine them translates the word roughly as "to bring God down in such a way so as to speak of him

 

Apophatic theology (from Ancient Greek: ἀπόφασις, from ἀπόφημι – apophēmi, "to deny")—also known as negative theology, via negativa or via negationis^[1] (Latin for "negative way" or "by way of denial")—is a theology that attempts to describe God, the Divine Good, by negation, to speak only in terms of what may not be said about the perfect goodness that is God.^[2] It stands in contrast with cataphatic theology.

A startling example can be found with theologian John Scotus Erigena (9th century): "We do not know what God is. God Himself does not know what He is because He is not anything. Literally God is not, because He transcends being."