Poetry from the Cabin 01/08/2024

The inspiration for this poem is some good friends who seem endlessly full of energy. They have eight kids, are building a ministry complex, home school, work, volunteer, and somehow always seem to have time for the people in front of them. In them I am witness to the empowerment of a healthy spiritual diet. Enabling them to push beyond their own physical and emotional energy. Their continual recentering before the cross is bearing fruit. May that be said also of all of us.

A candle burning brightly at both ends

Its burning bright and yet is unconsumed

Women of peace, and men of peace ascend

Beyond what mortal energy presumes

Like sled dogs daily feasting on fresh meat

For energy to run Iditarod

No longer kibble, packaged fancy feast

They’re feasting at the table set by God

These ever burning candles dim each week

Remade before the candle makers light

In rest with no production guaranteed

Recentered at the cross of Jesus Christ

And live the life He gives within His name

The metaphor of the second stanza of this poem may need some explanation. Sled dogs have to eat an extremely high protein diet. Along with a metabolism that is nothing short of miraculous, their diet is what allows them to run as much as 90 miles in a single day while pulling a sled. In contrast most of us feed our dogs kibble, of which fancy feast is a brand. Our pets typically are worn out after only a few miles.  Far too often we eat spiritual food pre-packaged like kibble. We sustain our subsistence on sermons and K-love songs, both good things, but rarely get to the meat of personal prayer, worship, and Bible reading. Worse yet we fail to train, fail to change the way we live as we follow Jesus and are His disciples. I had in mind two Bible verses as I wrote this.

13 For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. 14 But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

Hebrews 5:13-14

24 Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, so that you may win.

1 Corinthians 9:24