to learn.. to obey..

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I think I need to here recall the kind,

and thoughtful way that hesed / agapé

was then expressed to people who were blind

but with a kind of straight speech1 I would say;

though still you told analogies, stories

to make plain what was meant & help them see

what happens when love wakens, & then sees..

It acts out in this world so gratefully2..

It will do not its own desire or will,

it sees clear, & subjects itself to what

the script-writer has given it to fill,

and models what helps others who forgot..

that motive must come from what’s deeper down

than duty, it must come from loyal love

that keeps its word once given, though it frown

it just gets more creative. It won’t shove

another, though it may be ruthless with

itself, & have to "set its face like flint".

It takes its own advice, won't make (as smith)

untimely iron clad, final judgment3.

It may speak words of warning as it's bid

by hes'ed / agapé, or loyal-love4.

For that's a function love can not just rid

itself of, it is looking ever-up5, 

and living under orders (as that bloke,

official of the Roman-Empire who 

in topsy turvy fashion, truly spoke)6.

And Jesus drew attention, back then, to

(the motive force, within relationships)

a faithfulness within his spoken word

to truthfulness and loyal-love which tips

the balance in the favour of what's heard..6

So in some sense it focuses quite deep,

on spirit, motive, of a person in

a context where they act to bless-ed keep7

(but like a keeper in a game to win)

not for their pers'nal-glory / fetish thing;

as member of a team, with captain/ coach.

They keep the skills and strategies its true,

but spirit, or approach, in light of life,

and being a good "sport", they keep these too,

in ways that culture keepers keep alive

a thing that is unseen, they play their part

by keeping, acting out within this world

an aid to human beings, a good gift

from them to others, doing thus their bit.

They keep the word of true authority,

and thus they keep their own word as it comes

out slowly from their mouths, with time to think

& keep the bigger picture in their minds,

considering real needs of folk, & stinks

of other motives than the tie which binds

humanity to who it's made to be 

connected to, as hemispheres in brain

are meant to do their bit, in all; yet see

things from their "point of view", they still remain

a kind of two, who by their nature aid

abet, and keep connected, firing fast,

between themselves, in private, in the shade

of skull, they truly work, & at the last

they are not two, but one. Connections count!

And actions (not just "thoughts", or "hopes", or "wants")

that come out, as result of wrestling bout,

are precious outcomes, copied, with their fonts,

and format-ing. For culture is growing,

expanding all the more by outcomes from

the quiet mechanisms of queen/ king8,

who act as one in public, even prom-

enade in shade of banners, celebrate

their leading light in mechanisms of

a broken culture, since dead folk relate

(by power structures only do they nov-

igate, for new & novel leads them on).

But when a couple, coupled by design,

must wrestle with the truth in love & song,

this seems to be not just a deathly sign.

Or when a team will hear from ev'ry one,

for ev'ry member counts and has some gift(s)

to share for building up the whole - and fun!

The productivity of that team lifts.

And God himself, as Jesus spoke of him,

is like a father who will hear each child,

and loves to team with them, in bright or dim

conditions, and would see them strong, yet wild!

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Footnotes

1. Jesus and the man born blind (John 9): Jesus and his disciples “You have eyes. Can’t you see? (Mark 8:14-21) cf. Jesus & blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52 )

2. When Jesus goes to the home of Simon the Pharisee, and a woman whom Simon takes to be a “very sinful woman” comes in, but whom Jesus sees to be a woman who is a “very forgiven woman”.. & Jesus’ interchange with Simon about this. (Luke 7:36-50)

3. "Until the appointed time", when all will be revealed, and when final judgment does come.

4. Moses, & the Jewish prophets, including Jesus, seem to have this thrust upon them. "Woe to you shepherds/ leaders of my people…!' Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Jesus,

5. Jesus with the dumb man brought to him (Mk7:31-37, esp 34), Jesus praying, at Lazarus's grave, before feeding the 5k people, on the cross etc.

6. Both Matthew & Luke (Matt 8:5-13 & Luke 7:1-10) record this interchange.

7. "My "people" hear my words…  and keep them" (Deut 5:29; 18:18; 32:1; Lev 18:5-22:31; Prov ch 1-9 (e.g. 3:1; 4:4; 5:1; 7:1; 8:32); Luke 6:46-49; John 12:47-48; 14:15-29)

8. "The world must learn that I love (agapé) the father & that is why I do everything he has commanded me" (John 14:31)

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