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Sailing Somewhere

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This is an early poem written by me at the age of 19 years. You can tell the influence of Bob Dylan on a part of the verse (I had been listening none stop to Highway 61 Revisted and Blonde on Blonde). My formative years being in the 1960's when all human institutions were under attack for their betrayal of people, my anti-authoritarian attitude is full on display. In rereading this poem, I have found how much truth it still speaks, even though, ironically, I have spent over 42 years doing church ministry, the past 25 years as an ordained deacon. Living and working in dysfunctional human systems, including religious churches, I long was able to separate the the "wheat from the chaff", to use a gospel image, or more succinctly, the sins of the institution from the good of the institution. The truth that is revealed in this poem is that religions are never an end in themselves, but rather a means to a Greater Mystery or, in AA terms, a Higher Power that lies beyond that which we see and touch. 

I was placed in my boat of reed, And placed in a river run smoothed. I drifted past Moses’ landing place, Nestled amongst the rushes, Past Peter’s boat and fishing nets, Past reformed basilicas and black minarets, And factories of manufactured creeds and needs. All, whose only purpose is to clean the streets, Tattoo feet, and recycle old shoes and dirt. I sailed, past them all, Into the unknown of the ocean.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2020




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Date: 10/17/2022 12:01:00 PM
I enjoyed this poem well written. I like your imagery and am big fan of Bob Dylan. Religion is only one step towards finding and embracing Jesus Christ.
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Date: 2/13/2020 10:26:00 AM
I love it!
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Book: Shattered Sighs