consider…
Once you have in your bones the fundamental feasibilities of a place,
you can imagine there freely. – John Updike
*What if the rich young ruler had a poor young wife? Can you begin to imagine that? I can…
Sell all you have and give to the poor.
His rich young ears took Jesus literally,
causing a domino of shock and recoil
until finally the grievous turning away.
It was so sad. So young and so close.
Jesus thought to pursue the lost sheep
but knew if literal was the cause
literal could never be the salvation.
So with reined-compassion he chose
another way, a chance happening to
pass by the olive grove where the
poor young wife paused daily to feed
the sparrows. He stood at the edge
of her aloneness as she pitched crumbs
to the beggars. His voice still until she
had given all she had to them and only
then he dared speak: Life is a good idea.
She smiled, sensing unfamiliar patience
in him that roused the same in her.
It was merely a scrap for her but yes –
her husband might ease from striving
and seek her face once more, and
consider the birds fed without trouble.
