POEM: ‘NEVER’

NEVER

Never a river sullied more           

                For truth to flow through me.

Never a soul so concrete hard

                To plant the gospel tree.

Never a temple so bound by self  

                To worship a God so free.  

Never a vessel more weighed by junk

                To sail on piety’s sea.

Never a friend so bent on self

                To love abundantly.

Never a will so stubbornly hard

                To yield to love’s kind plea.

Never a Captain so wisdom full

                My lurching bark to steer.

Never a Fuller with hands so pure

                Can use a rag so mere.

Never a Builder with rotten wood

                Can build a temple dear.                                                                                             

Never a Messenger so full of joy

                Can move a heart so drear.

Never a Father so winsomely bold

                Can transform a son of fear.

Never a Priest with hands of love

                Could draw the sinner near.

He is all and I am nil

                The mystery is sure.

The more my sorry failings rise

                His grace must freer pour.

The more my heart shuts others out

                The more the opened door.

Each time my prodigal heart a-wastes

                The Father gives me more.

The ways of God no sense to make

                Though men have tried before.

I’m always bad but God is right

                And grace is at the core.

rgh