Manna

MAN TO GOD INGRATITUDE

IS THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF PREACHING

ON THAT PART OF THE STORY OF THE EXODUS

WHERE THE ISRAELITES GRUMBLED AT HARD TIMES

THE ISRAELITES HAD BEEN RELEASED

FROM SLAVERY IN EGYPT

PHARAOH'S ARMY

SENT TO RECAPTURE THEM

HAD BEEN DESTROYED

THEY HAD ESCAPED

TO THE WILDERNESS

OF SINAI

THEY HAD PASSED THROUGH A DIVIDED SEA

TO A BARREN LAND

AND THEY WERE HUNGRY

SO THEY COMPLAINED TO GOD

THROUGH MOSES AND AARON

WERE THERE NOT ENOUGH GRAVEYARDS IN EGYPT

THAT WE HAD TO COME OUT HERE TO DIE

IN EGYPT WE HAD MEAT

AND OUR FILL OF BREAD

DID YOU BRING US HERE TO DIE OF HUNGER

THIS THEY SAID TO GOD THE FATHER

THROUGH MOSES AND AARON

THEY SAID

IS THAT ALL THERE IS

IS THAT ALL THERE IS

FATHER

WE MIGHT EXPECT A GOD

TO REACT ANGRILY

TO SUCH INGRATITUDE

BUT GOD THE FATHER SAYS TO US

BECAUSE HIS LOVE FOR US

IS GREATER THAN OUR INGRATITUDE TO HIM

GOD THE FATHER SAYS

I HAVE HEARD YOUR COMPLAINING

AND THEREFORE

AT TWILIGHT

YOU SHALL EAT MEAT

AND IN THE MORNING

YOU SHALL HAVE YOUR FILL OF BREAD

SO IN THE EVENING OF THAT DAY

QUAIL CAME

WERE CAUGHT AND EATEN

AND IN THE MORNING

A SUBSTANCE LIKE CORNFLAKES

APPEARED ON THE BUSHES

WHEN THE ISRAELITES SAW IT

THEY ASKED

WHAT IS IT

IN HEBREW

MANNA

AND MOSES REPLIED

IT IS THE BREAD

THAT THE LORD

HAS GIVEN YOU TO EAT

TO ME

THE MORAL OF THE STORY

IS NOT SO MUCH

THE ISRAELITES INGRATITUDE

BUT THAT GOD HEARD THEIR COMPLAINING

AND LISTENED

THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER

WHERE WE ARE IN GRATITUDE

OR INGRATITUDE TO GOD

NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE

HE IS LISTENING

AND ANSWERING OUR NEEDS

I DON'T WANT TO BE POLLYANNA

IN THAT STATEMENT

GOD'S LOVE FOR US

DOES NOT MEAN

THAT EVERY DAY WILL BE SUNNY

OR FREE OF PAIN

HE WILL NOT GIVE

THE ONE LEGGED MAN ANOTHER LEG

BUT HELP THE ONE LEGGED MAN TO LIVE

WITH HIS ONE LEGGEDNESS

FOR GOD ANSWERS OUR NEEDS

NOT OUR WANTS

AND SOMETIMES GOD WEEPS

WHEN EVIL OVERCOMES

HIS LOVE FOR US

WHEN WE

OR THE WORLD

SAY MANNA MANNA

WHAT IS THIS

WE WOULD RATHER LIVE WELL FED IN EGYPT

THAN HUNGRY IN THE DESERT

GIVE US BACK OUR SLAVERY

BECAUSE FREEDOM IS TOO HARD

BECAUSE EVEN

WHEN WE ARE GIVEN

EVERYTHING WE NEED

WE ARE LIKE ADAM IN THE GARDEN

WHO SAYS

IS THIS ALL I GET

AND THEN EATS THE FRUIT

AND IN AWFUL AWARENESS

SHOUTS OUT

MANNA MANNA

WHAT IS IT

AND KNOWS

THAT IT IS SIN

AND CRIES OUT

I HAVE LOST GOD

BECAUSE OF MY INGRATITUDE

BUT GOD HEARS US

IN OUR DEEPEST MOMENT

AND FEEDS US

AS HE DOES IN HOLY COMMUNION

WE CRY MANNA WHAT IS IT

AND GOD REPLIES

SIGNS AND PROOFS OF MY LOVE

FOR JESUS SAYS

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE

IF YOU COME TO ME

YOU WILL NEVER BE HUNGRY

IF YOU BELIEVE IN ME

YOU WILL NEVER BE THIRSTY

WE CRY MANNA WHAT IS IT

AND JESUS SAYS

I HAVE COME LIKE WHEAT

THAT IS BROKEN AND GROUND DOWN

BY YOUR SINS

BY YOUR INGRATITUDE

AND I SAY

THAT I AM BREAD

AND I LIVE IN THAT BREAD

TAKE

EAT

AND REMEMBER ME

AND JESUS SAYS

I HAVE COME LIKE GRAPES

BROKEN AND CRUSHED

BY YOUR INGRATITUDE

AND I SAY

THAT I AM WINE

AND I LIVE IN THAT WINE

TAKE

DRINK

AND REMEMBER ME

AND THIS GIFT

AMONG ALL THE GIFTS THAT GOD GIVES US

IS THE GREATEST GIFT

THIS GIFT OF BREAD AND WINE

THIS GIFT OF BODY AND BLOOD

THIS GIFT OF GOD HIMSELF

LET US BE GRATEFUL

AND SAY AMEN

LET US SAY AMEN

AND THANK YOU

FRANK A VOLLMER

How Beautiful the Feet

I COULDN'T TELL YOU

IF SHE HAS CORNS OR BUNIONS

WEARS WHITE SNEAKERS PAST LABOR DAY

WEARS EASY SPIRIT OR UGGS

BUT SHE HAS DONE A MITZVAH FOR ME

AND BROUGHT ME HAPPINESS

HOW BEAUTIFUL THE FEET

OF THOSE WHO BRING JOY TO THE SICK

WHOSE ONLY RECOMPENSE IS FRIENDSHIP

WHOSE ONLY MOTIVE IS FRIENDSHIP

AND TO WHOM I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL

FRANK A VOLLMER

A Bit of Hope

 

PERHAPS THERE MAY COME A TIME WHERE WE CAN SAY

NEITHER GAY NOR STRAIGHT

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

 

TODAY

IS THE THIRD SUNDAY

AFTER THE EPIPHANY.

EPIPHANY IS A GREEK WORD,

WHICH AT ITS ROOT

MEANS TO SHOW.

EPIPHANY IS ALSO

THAT TIME IN THE CHURCH YEAR

FROM CHRISTMAS

TO BEGINNING OF LENT.

AS IT APPLIES TO THE LIFE OF JESUS

IT TREATS OF THOSE EVENTS

WHEN CHRIST

WAS BEGINNING TO SHOW

HIS KINGSHIP

AND HIS DIVINITY.

ON JANUARY SIXTH

WE HAD THE FEAST

OF THE EPIPHANY ITSELF

WHEN THE WISEMEN

FOLLOWING A STAR

CAME TO SEE HIM.

ON JANUARY SEVENTH

WE HAD THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

WHEN GOD THE FATHER

DECLARED

THAT JESUS WAS HIS SON.

ON JANUARY FOURTEENTH

WE HAD THE WEDDING AT CANA

WHERE JESUS TURNED WATER INTO WINE.

AND TODAY WE REMEMBER

WHEN JESUS

PREACHED FOR THE FIRST TIME

IN HIS HOMETOWN NAZARETH.

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY.

MOST OF IT IS TRUE.

THE REST IS A PARABLE.

JESUS TOLD PARABLES.

THEY WERE

AND ARE

STORIES TO TEACH A LESSON.

JESUS

FILLED WITH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT

WAS PREACHING IN GALILEE.

GOING FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE.

AND THE PEOPLE FELT HOPE

AND JOY

IN HIS MESSAGE

BUT THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE

AND THE WEALTHY AND IMPORTANT

FELT THREATENED

HE WAS NOW IN NAZARETH

AND HE AND HIS MOTHER

WERE WALKING TO THE SYNAGOGUE.

AT THE DOOR THEY PARTED.

MARY WENT TO SIT WITH THE WOMEN

BECAUSE THE SYNAGOGUE WAS SEGREGATED.

AT THE CENTER OF THE SYNAGOGUE SAT

ALL THE IMPORTANT MEN OF THE VILLAGE.

AROUND THEM SAT

THE OTHER MEN OF THE VILLAGE.

THE WOMEN WERE IGNORED

THEY WERE NOT IMPORTANT.

IN FACT THE JEWISH LEADERS SAID

THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER

FOR THE BIBLE TO BE BURNED

RATHER THAN BE TAUGHT TO A WOMAN.

THIS WAS THE WORLD JESUS LIVED IN

AND HE DID NOT LIKE IT.

HE ALSO DID NOT LIKE THE PRAYER

THAT JEWISH MEN SAID DAILY.

THEY SAID

BLESSED BE GOD

THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME

A GENTILE.

BLESSED BE GOD

THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME

A WOMAN.

BLESSED BE GOD

THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME

A SLAVE.

THIS ALSO BOTHERED JESUS.

IT WAS NOT THE WORLD

THAT HE

OR HIS FATHER WANTED.

LATER PAUL

IN GALATIANS

WOULD ANSWER THAT PRAYER

WITH A NEW ONE

THAT REFLECTED WHAT JESUS THOUGHT

WHEN HE WROTE

AS MANY OF YOU

AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST

HAVE CLOTHED YOURSELVES

WITH CHRIST.

THEREFORE

THERE IS NO LONGER

JEW OR GREEK,

THERE IS NO LONGER

SLAVE OR FREE,

THERE IS NO LONGER

MALE AND FEMALE;

FOR ALL OF YOU

ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.

BUT THAT PRAYER WAS WRITTEN

AFTER JESUS HAD LIVED AND DIED.

BUT TODAY IN OUR STORY

JESUS IS BEGINNING HIS JOURNEY.

AS HE LOOKS AT THE ASSEMBLY

HE IS SADDENED

THAT THEY HAVE WANDERED

SO FAR FROM HIS FATHER'S DREAM.

HE OPENS THE SCRIPTURES

AND READING FROM ISAIAH

HE DECLARES IN A STRONG VOICE

THE NEW/OLD VISION OF THE FATHER

FOR HIS PEOPLE.

TODAY HE SAYS

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME.

HE HAS APPOINTED ME.

HE HAS APPOINTED ME

TO BRING GOOD NEWS

TO THE POOR.

HE HAS APPOINTED ME

TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO CAPTIVES

HE HAS APPOINTED ME

TO TELL THE BLIND

THAT THEY SHALL SEE.

TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN

THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED

AND TO TELL

ALL PEOPLE

THAT THE TIME FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS

IS NOW.

JESUS CLOSES THE BOOK.

LOOKS AT ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE,

LOOKS AT ALL THE NOT SO IMPORTANT PEOPLE

LOOKS AT HIS MOTHER

AND ALL THE OTHER WOMEN

WHO DID NOT COUNT

AND SAYS

TODAY

THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED

IN YOUR HEARING

MEANING THAT THE TIME FOR CHANGE

WAS NOW

AND FOR THAT REASON

JESUS WAS PREACHING.

I HOPE MY SERMON

IS BETTER RECEIVED

THAN JESUS' WAS

BECAUSE WHEN JESUS WAS FINISHED

HE WAS CHASED OUT OF TOWN.

BUT THAT'S NEXT WEEK SERMON

SO TUNE IN.

BUT THE RICH MEN AND THE IMPORTANT MEN

AND THE LEADERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE

THOUGHT

WHY WORRY ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT.

ABOUT THOSE WHO COUNT FOR NOTHING.

THE OTHER MEN WONDERED

WHY THE FUSS,

LIFE IS GOING ON OK FOR ME.

IT TOOK PAUL

AGAIN IN TODAY'S LESSON

TO PUT WORDS TO JESUS' DREAM

WHEN HE WRITES IN CORINTHIANS.

THAT THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

IS LIKE A BODY,

MANY PARTS

ONE BODY.

AND THAT THAT

BODY IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.

AS PAUL WRITES

FOR IN ONE SPIRIT

WE WERE ALL BAPTIZED

INTO ONE BODY.

NO MORE JEW OR GREEK,

SLAVE OR FREE

BUT ONE BODY.

AND IN THAT BODY

IF ONE PART SUFFERS

THE WHOLE BODY SUFFERS.

JUST AS IF

ONE PART OF THE BODY IS HONORED

THE WHOLE BODY IS HONORED.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR.

THIS IS JESUS' DREAM

THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR

AS IF HE WERE CHRIST.

THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR

BECAUSE HE IS ONE WITH US

IN CHRIST'S BODY.

SO JESUS LOOKING AT THE WORLD

THROUGH OUR EYES

AND SEEING

THAT IT IS NOT THE WORLD

THAT HIS FATHER

OR HE WANTS.

ASKS US TO SAY WITH HIM

AS HE SAID IN NAZARETH ON THAT DAY.

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON US.

HE HAS APPOINTED US.

HE HAS APPOINTED US

TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR.

HE HAS APPOINTED US

TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY

TO CAPTIVES

HE HAS APPOINTED US

TO TELL THE BLIND

THAT THEY SHALL SEE.

TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN

THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED

TO TELL ALL PEOPLE

THAT THE TIME

FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS

IS NOW. SO I ASK YOU

(PUT IN NAME)

WILL YOU HELP JESUS

TO MAKE THE WORLD

THE WAY HE WANTS IT

RESPONSE

I WILL AND I ASK GOD TO HELP ME.

 

 

 

FRANK A VOLLMER

I Was Mom's Favorite

 

IN MY MOTHER'S COFFIN

WERE PLACED FOUR ROSES

ATTACHED TO THEM WAS A CARD

THAT SAID

FROM YOUR FAVORITES

A SEMI-SERIOUS GAME

MY THREE SISTERS

AND I HAVE PLAYED

MOST OF OUR LIVES

THE GAME OF

WHO WAS MOM'S FAVORITE

I HAVE RECEIVED BIRTHDAY CARDS

FROM MY SISTERS

THAT SAID FOR MY BIRTHDAY

MOM GAVE ME FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS

WHAT DID SHE GIVE YOU

OR HAS MOM TOLD YOU YET

THAT YOU WERE ADOPTED

IT WAS A SILLY GAME

IT WAS A FUN GAME

MOM ENJOYED IT.

THOUGH IN SECRET

SHE TOLD ME

THAT I WAS HER FAVORITE

LATELY I'VE SUSPECTED

THAT SHE TOLD MY SISTERS THE SAME THING

LUTHER

AS A YOUNG MAN

AND AS A YOUNG MONK

CERTAINLY DID NOT THINK HIMSELF

AS GOD'S FAVORITE

LUTHER AS A RESULT

OF HOW HE WAS TAUGHT RELIGION

HAD EVOLVED A SET OF FOUR QUESTIONS

FROM WHICH HE COULD NOT ESCAPE

THEY WERE

CAN YOU BE FREE FROM SIN

NOOOO HE ANSWERED

IS THERE A DAY OF JUDGMENT

YESSSS HE ANSWERED

IS GOD INDIFFERENT TO SIN

NOOOO HE ANSWERED

WILL YOU BE DAMMED FOR YOUR SINS

YESSSS HE ANSWERED

LUTHER HAD NO TROUBLE

UNDERSTANDING WHAT NATHAN SAID

IN WHICH GOD IS QUOTED AS SAYING

BECAUSE YOU DAVID HAVE SINNED

YOUR CHILD MUST DIE.

THERE WAS NO LOVE IN LUTHER'S GOD

WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN

AND JESUS SAID TO PETER

PETER DO YOU LOVE ME

YES LORD I DO

PETER FEED MY LAMBS

AND AGAIN JESUS ASKED PETER

PETER DO YOU LOVE ME

LORD YOU KNOW I DO

FEED MY SHEEP

AND A THIRD TIME JESUS ASKED

PETER DO YOU LOVE ME

TO WHICH

IF PETER HAD GROWN UP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD

HE WOULD HAVE SAID

YO JESUS I ALREADY TOLD YOU TWICE

BUT PETER SAID

LORD YOU KNOW EVERYTHING

YOU KNOW MY HEART,

YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU

AND JESUS SAID FEED MY LAMBS

THIS SCENE TO ME

IS ONE OF THE TENDEREST SCENES

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

I VISION PETER

AS A BIG INARTICULATE BEAR OF A MAN

GIVEN TO RASH ACTION

STRIVING HARD TO FOLLOW THE LORD

SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE FOOT AS HE GOES.

SUFFERING FROM FOOT IN MOUTH DISEASE

AS WITNESSED BY WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

FOR PETER TURNS AROUND

AND SPIES JOHN

RUMORED TO BE JESUS' FAVORITE

AND HE SAYS

WHAT ABOUT THAT MAN

AND JESUS SAYS

WHAT IS THAT TO YOU

IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

TOP TO BOTTOM IN ZERO SECONDS

GOES PETER

GO PETER

EVERY MORNING WHEN I WASH MY FACE

I THINK I SEE PETER.

TOP TO BOTTOM IN ZERO SECONDS

GO PETER

THERE WAS A MAN

WHO HAD TWO SONS

THE YOUNGER ONE SAID

FATHER GIVE ME ALL THAT IS MINE

I WANT TO LEAVE.

THE FATHER DID AS THE SON REQUESTED

AND THE YOUNG MAN WENT OFF

SPENT ALL HIS MONEY

ENDING UP EATING WITH THE PIGS

HE SAID TO HIMSELF

MY FATHERS SERVANTS LIVE BETTER THAN THIS.

I WILL RISE AND GO TO MY FATHER

AND BEG HIM TO LET ME BE ONE OF HIS SERVANTS

EVERY EVENING SINCE THE SON HAD LEFT

THE FATHER HAD CLIMBED A HILLSIDE

FOR A BETTER VIEW

AND HAD WATCHED

AND WAITED FOR HIS SON TO RETURN

WHEN HE SAW HIM AT A DISTANCE

AT A LONG LONG DISTANCE

WHEN HE SAW HIM AT A DISTANCE

AND RECOGNIZED HIS WALK

AS ONLY A PARENT CAN KNOW A CHILD'S WALK.

WHEN HE SAW HIM AT A DISTANCE

AT A LONG LONG DISTANCE

HE RAN TO HIM LAUGHING

AND CRYING

AND SHOUTING

MY SON HAS RETURNED

THE ONE I THOUGHT WAS LOST

HAS RETURNED

AND HE RAN TO HIM

EMBRACED HIM

BEAR HUGGED HIM SO TIGHT

THAT THE SON'S MUMBLED

I WANT TO BE ONE OF YOUR SERVANTS

WAS NEVER HEARD

WAS NEVER HEARD

IN THE FATHER S EXUBERANT JOY

HIS COMING HOME

WAS MESSAGE ENOUGH

NOW YOU AND I

AT SOME TIME IN OUR LIVES

WE ARE THE OLDER BROTHER.

THE ONE WHO DID EVERY THING RIGHT.

WE SEE THE HAPPINESS OF THE FATHER

AND HOW THE FATHER HAS RESTORED

THE YOUNGER BROTHER

TO A PLACE OF HONOR

AND WE ARE JEALOUS.

I THINK IF THIS WASN'T A BIBLE STORY

WE WOULD ALL THINK

THAT THE OLDER BROTHER

WAS POORLY TREATED

BUT THAT IS EXACTLY

WHAT JESUS WANTS US TO THINK

ABOUT THIS STORY

LEFT TO OUR OWN JUDGMENTS

THE YOUNGER SON

WOULD HAVE BEEN BANISHED FROM THE FARM

AND ALL HONOR GIVEN TO THE OLDER SON

WHO HAD DONE NO WRONG

WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WILLING

TO KILL THE BABY TOO

BECAUSE SIN NEEDS PUNISHMENT

IN OUR MIND

BUT JESUS WANTS US TO KNOW

THAT WHAT

WAS

IS NO

MORE

THAT BECAUSE OF HIS DEATH

AND RESURRECTION

THE LOVE OF GOD FOR HIS CREATURES

HAS BECOME IRRATIONAL,

DOES NOT GO BY RULES

BY WHICH WE FEEL COMFORTABLE

THAT WHEN GOD LOOKS AT US

THAT WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALLY

HIS FAVORITE

THAT HIS FORGIVENESS IS THERE

BEFORE WE SIN

WHILE WE SIN

AND AFTER WE SIN

THAT ALL WE HAVE TO DO

IS ASK FORGIVENESS

AND TRY TO SIN NO MORE

THIS IS THE LESSON MARTIN LUTHER LEARNED

WHILE STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES

THAT GOD LOVED HIM

INDIVIDUALLY AND TOTALLY

THAT FORGIVENESS WAS FREE

AND FREELY GIVEN

THIS IS THE LESSON PETER LEARNED

THAT GOD LOVED HIM

GOOD TIMES AND BAD.

WHETHER STRONGLY DEFENDING JESUS

WITH A SWORD

OR COWERING BEFORE A SERVANT MAID’S GLANCE

HE WAS LOVED BEFORE

DURING

AND AFTER

HE WAS LOVED

THIS IS A LESSON MY MOTHER

TAUGHT MY SISTERS AND I

I WILL LOVE YOU TOTALLY

AND INDIVIDUALLY WITH ALL MY HEART

AND THE LESSON IS

THAT EACH OF US

INDIVIDUALLY

IS GOD’S FAVORITE

THAT WHEN HE LOOKS ON US

HIS CREATION

ALL IS FORGOTTEN

AND FORGIVEN

EXCEPT HIS LOVE FOR US

OUR GOD HAS CARVED OUR NAME

ON THE PALM OF HIS HAND

THAT OUR NAME MIGHT ALWAYS BE BEFORE HIM

THAT EACH OF US

HAS A SPECIAL PLACE

IN HIS HEART

AND OVER THE DOOR

OF THAT PLACE

IS A SIGN THAT SAYS

HOME OF MY FAVORITE

FRANK A VOLLMER

Fantasy

WHY DO I ALWAYS FEEL

THAT THE OCEAN WAVES

ARE CARRYING MESSAGES

FROM A DISTANT LAND

AS IF GOD IS DIPPING HIS FINGER

IN THE WATER

AND IS TALKING TO ME

IN WAYS I DON’T UNDERSTAND

WHY DOES GOD SPEAK TO ME

IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS

A FANTASY PERHAPS

BUT THEN I OFTEN LIVE IN FANTASY

THAT MEN WILL LIVE WELL

AND HONOR GOD

THAT GOVERNMENTS WILL SPEAK TRUTH

THAT THE POOR

WILL HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM

NOT JUST TO KEEP THEM

IN THEIR PLACE

BUT A PLACE AMONG THE HAVES

THAT NO CHILD WILL GO TO BED HUNGRY

THAT NO ONE WILL BE DESTITUTE IN OLD AGE

THAT WORK WILL BE REWARDED BY WAGES

SUFFICIENT TO LIVE DECENTLY

THAT WAR WILL BE AN HISTORICAL ITEM

THAT GOD’S VOICE

IS LIKE THE WAVES ON THE OCEAN SHORE

WHISPERING ALWAYS

LOVE

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

LOVE

REPEATEDLY

INCESSANTLY

SOMETIMES FRIGHTENINGLY

MOST TIMES PEACEFULLY

GOD WRITES OUR SINS UPON THE WATER

AND THE WAVES TAKE THEM AWAY

HE WAVES COME UPON THE SHORE

AND TELL THE WORLD

FORGIVE

AS I HAVE FORGIVEN YOU

LIVE WELL

REMEMBER EVEN FANTASIES COME TRUE

AND THE SEA AND THE WIND OBEY HIM

FRANK A VOLLMER

Guess What

I’VE DROPPED MY DRAWERS

SO MUCH

THE LAST FEW YEARS

I’M STARTING TO THINK

IT’S MEDICAL JARGON

FOR HELLO

NOW I’VE HAD CATHETERS

STUCK UP MY DANGLING PARTICIPLE

TUBES POKED DOWN MY THROAT

THROUGH MY NOSE

CHEMICALS

POURED INTO ME

INTRAVENOUSLY

LENSES CHANGED IN MY EYES

METAL SCREEN FOR HERNIA

CAT SCANNED FOR CANCER

BUT NEVER

HAVE I SUFFERED THE IGNOMINY

THAT IS TO COME

I REALIZE

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN

IT’S PROBABLY ONLY AN ELEVEN

BUT IT’S HAPPENING TO ME

I’M HAVING A COLONOSCOPY

NOW PAUL HAS SAID

THAT GOD

HAS GIVEN GREATER HONOR

TO THE PARTS OF THE BODY

THAT LACKED IT

THAT IN GOD’S KINGDOM

THERE ARE NO INFERIOR PARTS

BY INFERENCE

THERE ARE NO THROWAWAY PEOPLE

THAT GOD GIVES DIGNITY

TO THOSE WHO MOST NEED IT

AND IN A REAL WAY

WHAT WE DO TO THE LEAST OF OUR BRETHREN

THAT WE DO UNTO HIM

SO I SAID TO THE DOCTOR

DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW

WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING

HE DIDN’T SMILE

I GUESS HE’D HEARD IT BEFORE

FRANK VOLLMER

Soliloquy #2

ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT

BROUGHT ON BY MEDICINE

NOT BY WORRY

ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT

WATCHING SHADOWS RUN ACROSS THE ROOM

AS CARS GO BY

TIME WAS WHEN THEY WERE MONSTERS

BUT I’VE OUT GROWN THEM

NOW THEY LISTEN TO ME

AS I TALK TO THEM

ABOUT QUESTIONS THAT HAVE NO ANSWERS

OR AT LEAST SATISFACTORY ANSWERS

LIKE WHY ARE CHRISTIANS

KNOWN MORE FOR HATE

THAN LOVE

SO VOLTAIRE CAN SAY

OF ALL RELIGIONS,

CHRISTIANITY IS WITHOUT A DOUBT

THE ONE THAT SHOULD INSPIRE TOLERANCE MOST,

ALTHOUGH, UP TO NOW,

THE CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN

THE MOST INTOLERANT OF ALL MEN

OR AS JOHN ADAMS OUR SECOND PRESIDENT SAID

THIS WOULD BE THE BEST

OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS,

IF THERE WERE NO RELIGION IN IT

IF WE ARE MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE

SHOULD WE NOT BE GOD-LIKE

AND BE LOVING

FOR GOD IS LOVE

IT SHOULD BE THE MEASURE

BY WHICH WE MEASURE

ALL THINGS

BIBLE VERSES

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

RELIGIONS

ANYTHING WHICH DIMINISHES MAN

GOD’S SPECIAL CREATION

WHY ARE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE

OFTEN GLOOMY

WHY DO GOOD PEOPLE

OFTEN GIVE CHURCHES

A BAD NAME

PLACES

WHERE A SINNER

WOULD NOT FEEL WELCOME

FOR IF WE EXCLUDE HIM

HOW WILL HE HEAR THE WORD

BUT AS FOR ME

I KNOW THE SUN WILL NEVER SET

NOR THE MOON CHANGE ITS SIZE

THE LORD WILL SHINE ETERNAL LIGHT UPON ME

AND MY DAYS OF SORROW WILL END

AND I SHALL WAIT FOR THAT MOMENT

MORE THAN WATCHMAN WAIT

FOR THE DAWN

BUT AS FOR ME

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO FIND FAULT

BUT TO LIVE EACH DAY

EACH PRECIOUS DAY

AS A PERSON MOTIVATED BY LOVE

TO KEEP MY LAMP TRIMMED

AND BE WAITING WHEN THE LORD COMES FOR ME

FRANK A VOLLMER