Lois

Lois of Lystra

This is more of a monologue than a poem.
It could be used as part of a reflective service.

(Timothy’s Nana reflects)
___________________________

Ah – to be a mother!
Today I luxury in grandmother hood
No less difficult than how it came to be:
All hell broke loose that day -
When headstrong Eustace begged to wed.
A Greek marry a Jewess?
What of the purity of our faith?
How can purity survive Empire?

These are changing times…
Times of a new world order…
Times when lion and lamb and Greek and Jew
Lie down together!
No Hansonism in this household!

Wed, she did.
But, by what rites of compromise –
No-one really happy at mixed marriage.
We raised the cup of thanksgiving
And greedily ate olives…
Care was taken not to offend,
But mistakes were made
And forgiven.

When young Timmy came along
His father balked at the Covenant’s cut.
What would my husband have said?
We will never know.

When the Pharisee Followers spoke
We listened.
Stories of invitation
Brought us to waters of life.
Our heads were turned…
Timmy’s too.
A new Covenant did not the old rite require
But a washing and drowning and birthing
Symbol of water
Held blessing instead.

Eustace asked for my blessing…
What need a blessing?
I am coming with you.
We went to the waters together
Little knowing young Timmy’s call.
He grew in his prayers,
Deep and rich and full of life.
He cared for the poor and the widow.
He studied the prophets.

Then the Pharisee Follower came
And Timmy went with him.
A grandmother wonders at the world,
The future, the generations to come…
Little Timmy has been a good boy
And now he serve higher purpose.
I wonder at his life…
Visiting far away places.
I worry at his life…
Drawing attention from Rome.
I pray for this life and the next.
Amen….

(Acts 16:1 and 2 Timothy 1:5)

© 2017, A.Koh-Butler