not far to fall by Pastor Erling Shultz

 

…a woman…came out and started shouting…

But he did not answer her at all.

…she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

                                                                                                              Matt 15:22-25

 

not far to fall                                                                                          Erling Shultz, August 2020

 

the struggle continues for some;

          to be seen, to be heard, to be touched –

               to have a seat at the table of life

the resistance continues for some;

          to be included, accepted, respected –

               to have compassion granted:

     it’s not far to fall

               when caught in humanities scarcity farce

 

so what do you do with an outspoken outsider?

     what do you do with an annoying intruder?

     what do you do with a persistent seeker of acceptance?

          all just hoping for some equity scraps:

because –

     what’s another scornful snub,

                 another hurtful slur,

                 another slap of denial?

          all meant to send one to the floor:

when you’re already kneeling,

     it’s not far to fall

 

when you’re on your knees you’re already near

               the crumbs of –

          leftover liberties, cast aside care, forgotten grace,

               unaware abundance:

     it’s not far to fall

 

so what do you do when you hear the vulnerable scream?

     what do you do when you hear the hungry crumble?

     what do you do when you see the excluded kneel?

          all just waiting for the seat next to you:

when your knee is already bent,

     it’s not far to sit

               at the table of neighborly love