 While reading the Book of Leviticus and not finding much to write about, I turned my attention back to the series of poems I've been working on concerning the book, The Purpose-Driven Life, written by Rick Warren. Taking the scripture mentioned in each of the forty chapters and turning them into poetry, the next chapter in line for me was chapter/day 17 entitled, A Place to Belong. This chapter had everything to do with being part of the body of Christ, a subject I've touched on in other poems I written. When I first began this series in 2004, I looked at the first seven chapters of Warren's book and selected the easiest chapter I could tackle (poetically-speaking), and did the same for the next 7 chapters, and so on. When I was done, I ended up with six poems out of the 40 chapters for the six-week study. Six years later, I decided to complete the series and wrote another poem in 2010. After another six years of not writing much of anything, I started writing more of these poems beginning in 2016. All of these poems written through 2018 were thematic for me. Meaning, after reading the scripture associated with a particular chapter, I had an idea and a concept of what I wanted to say. As I wrote, I lightly touched on the relevant scripture. Beginning with 2020, I can no longer visualize what I want to write. I am wholly dependent on the relative scripture. Without any idea where the poem is going or what it is about, I'll read the scripture for a particular chapter over and over and over and OVER in various translations and just try to bend it any way I can. For example, the opening verses for this chapter: You are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian. Ephesians 2:19b (LB) God’s family is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15b (GWT) After poring over these verses, out comes the following: Like us, you are citizens — saints from God's nation; you're members and part of God's household, abroad. The church is God's family that forms the foundation and pillar of truth of the one living God. I don't know how long the poem is going to be. Nor do I have any conclusion in mind — no killer line to end it. Many times, I do not have a title until it has been completed (to which this one is an example). I just string verses along (hopefully!) in some coherent fashion and pray for a good outcome. This is all very odd for me. And a little scary. I blame it on writing much of the Book of Job last year verse-for-verse. After doing that for 40 chapters in Job, I guess I developed that same mindset as a crutch. And, for this series, maybe this is the way the poems should be written. I would think that when the series is completed, there will be a noticeable difference between the first several poems and the rest. Frankly, I was quite happy and relieved to be able to write this year's Easter poem freely from my heart. All for One & One for All Based on Ephesians 2:19b; 1 Timothy 3:15b; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 4:16; Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:26; 1 Corinthians 12:7; James 5:19; Hebrews 3:13; 1 Peter 2:17b; Ephesians 4:16b Like us, you are citizens — saints from God's nation; you're members and part of God's household, abroad. The church is God's family that forms the foundation and pillar of truth of the one living God. For just as one body whose members are many, so everyone makes up the body of Christ. The value of one is not greater than any, nor pain any less were the least sacrificed. Both Gentile and Jew who believe him will share it — God's wonderful riches since both are his heirs. Each part of the body of Christ will inherit each promise and blessing that's equally theirs. He makes the whole body fit nicely together; each part does its part for the body to thrive. If one part decided to leave and untether, apart from the body it couldn't survive. When somebody suffers — a sister or brother, the body's in turmoil and aches as a whole. For God's so connected us one with another, we're truly his body: one heart, mind and soul. And, likewise, whenever a member's uplifted, we all share the honor — the glory's diffused. We're special and each have uniquely been gifted to help our church family when those gifts are used. The body's not well when its parts start to wander; when lost in confusion or deserts they roam. Forget all the meetings or viewpoints to ponder, just go out and find them and bring them back home! Encourage and love one another while knowing the closer you are brings you nearer to me. Keep building, supporting, equipping and growing — for this is the way that I want you to be. Ephesians 2:19b (LB) You are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian. 1 Timothy 3:15b (GWT) God’s family is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 1 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV) For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. Ephesians 3:6 (NLT) And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. Ephesians 4:16 (NLT) He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Romans 12:4-5 (MSG) Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? 1 Corinthians 12:26 (NCV) If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. Or if one part of our body is honored, all the other parts share its honor. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT) A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church. James 5:19 (MSG) If you know people who have wondered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back. Hebrews 3:13 (NIV) Encourage one another daily . . . so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 1 Peter 2:17b (MSG) Love your spiritual family. Ephesians 4:16b (NLT) As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. LB: Living Bible • GWT: God's Word Translation • ESV: English Standard Version • NLT: New Living Translation • MSG: The Message • NCV: New Century Version • NIV: New International Version
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