Salvation
Demanding that I change
even asking nicely
that I or my mind change
will cure neither my ills
nor your concerns for me.
Why is it important
what I believe or don’t
believe to be true?
Just drop it and
then our minds
can agree to disagree
or they can part ways.
The crux of this problem
lies in the tears
staining your face –
tears you cry over
some concern for
my salvation.
Rather than being
my priest, my pastor,
be my friend.
Rather than being
concerned for my eternity
share life with me.
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Posted on December 26, 2014, in Poetry and tagged DoubleU, John White, Poetry, Salvation. Bookmark the permalink. 40 Comments.
There is life in the concept, and then there is life in the act.
“…be my friend.”
Thank you. Sometimes what sounds like an easy task can be difficult – to be a friend. It’s great to meet you!
As far as friendship goes (and goes), some people are overloaded in their lives, and some are just not comfortable with certain kinds of sharing. There’s application in all things, some application of unconditional love…something to always believe in.
Let’s (try to) Be Social.
I agree that some are more open than others. Open to sharing, open to emotional connections, open to emotional vulnerabilities displayed between friends. Time can be a factor in life and can easily prevent friends from being together. However, the point of the poem is acceptance – of flaws whether real or perceived – and acceptance of differences of opinion. If we embrace those things, being social will be much more easily achieved.
I know the poem’s about acceptance. But without availability it doesn’t work. Whatever. I am reminded again why I am alone.
I totally agree. Busy lives can mean less time with friends.
Don’t save me, stand with me 😍
Exactly! Thanks for dropping by and for reblogging!
“they can part ways” It kind of looks like you’re looking at this one.
Thank you. It’s great to meet you!
I am still learning from my experiences and relationships everyday. The best friends I’ve had are those who are loyal to me before, during and after I learn some of life’s toughest lessons. Thankfully, the before and the after are our chances to chill together, just loving the calms between the storms–the springs that follow the harshest winters, etc. This is a great poem! Thank you!
Thank you. Friends like those are rare and precious and certainly worth a lifetime of love and acceptance. It’s great to meet you!
Reblogged this on Unhinged Intensity and commented:
Response to “Salvation”
Yes
I do care about your eternity
Yes
The vision of you
Burning in a lake of sulfur for all eternity
Makes me weep
Makes me sob
Yes
You may believe
Whatever you wish
Because the Father gives us a choice
I don’t ask you to change
That is not something I desire
But I beg
I plead with you
To let the One who gave you breath
Not change you
But transform you
Free you
Yes
I care about your soul
No
I will not stand complacent
Compelled to tell you
Plead with you
That God came to us in the form of a baby
With human fingers and human toes
Human tears
Human joy
Human anger
And pain
He died in the form of a real man
So that God would be with us at all times
So that we get to live in a new earth
The way it was originally created
Untouched
Beautiful
With no pain
Only tears of joy
Yes
I desire this for you
With all my heart
I do not know you
Fellow soul
And right now I weep for you
Not asking you to change
But asking you to let Him in
Let Him into your soul
To transform you
He loves you for who you are
Where you are at
Friend
I do want to share life
With you
For all eternity
With our maker
That is the life
I wish to share
Thanks for the reblog. This is an interesting response – a first for me, actually.
Thanks John. I truly enjoy your writing and felt strongly about responding.
Amen. I totallly agree 🙂
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Speak the #truth!!!! 👏 I love this! ❤️ Live and let live; love and let love. People are far too concerned with what others believe and don’t believe. I believe we all just need to be loved and share that love in return. That’s what’s really important. More important than passing judgment on people who just want to live their lives. You are a literary Rock Star 🌟
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it and I’m glad to know there are like-minded people out there.
Thanks for the follow and the like!
You’re welcome of course. Thank you for visiting and for commenting!
loving this one!
Thank you very much! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Oh yes. I understand this type of relationship very well. Excellent work.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Cool poem. It really struck a chord with me.
😁
👕
👖
👟
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s great to meet you!
I really like to write poetry, but it’s very satisfying to read it as well. That’s one of the best poems I’ve read on WordPress. Great to meet you too! 😆
Thank you! You’ve made my day!!
There is a yearning and sadness felt here of two people drawn to each other but separated by an abyss not yet bridged.
Thank you, Annie! It’s great to meet you!
It seems that the impulse to “save” another can be an innocent yet audacious presumption that one actually holds such a power. At the root is fear of loss, of seperation even eternal. Ultimate self preservation should the “infidel” not convert. It can be the willing for another what in reality has yet to be apprehended for the self. All spiritual traditions teach that salvation’s focus is solitary and inward. The witnessing is not about what the other ought be but rather the good news story of the redemption of ones own self. Here lives grace and hope and encouragement with no condemnation. When I attend to the log in my eye having grace for the speck in yours is no burden whatsoever. Be Groovy.
I am enjoying your work
Always be groovy! One’s own thoughts, beliefs or convictions are their own. I respect that and their right to hold what they wish as meaningful. My own views on the subject can be expressed in a few words – salvation lies in a free mind. (TM? not so sure, really if I got to that thought first) When we allow ourselves to question everything, constantly learn and grow as well as to free ourselves enough accept the challenge of new ideas then we find true salvation. My secular viewpoint is in stark contrast to your decidedly theological viewpoint but what we have in common is enough – we are both living, breathing, thinking, feeling human beings. And, yes, we can continue to strive to be groovy! Always!
I was in agreement with you, still am. I’ve studied many different “ologies”. In the end they are just different vessels trying to contain something much too large for any of them to hold. If I have a subject I could write about it or dance about it or paint about it or develop a mathematical formula about it or whatever, they would all be true in their fashion and hopefully communicate something about the subject but they never will be the subject. The theological words were in response to the use of the word salvation. My words may have been poorly constructed.
Maybe all I was trying to say was if someone has a need for another to be like or agree with them in order to be ok then it says more about them and what they need than it does about the identified “infidel.” When theological or god words are used they may sometimes be covering for something not entirely “godlike” or good or selfless or whatever. Even if someone says they want another to be with them in eternity they are still speaking of their own desire not the others. This is fun. Thank you for letting me play.
Thanks for playing. lol
This is so strange that I didn’t see this on the day you wrote it but I see it today because I was sort of thinking about this today – but from the other side of it. I was asking myself why do I care about other people’s salvation? I was truly trying to analyze it – do I really care? This is what I came up with. To be completely open I do not think one minute of someone going to heaven or hell. I mean yes, I think there is a heaven and perhaps, a hell, but I am not the type of evangelistic disciple that asks the question, “if you die tonight, where would you go?” So what do I care about? I care about people having hope and some measure of peace in THIS life. I think about how totally imperfect I am, the completely boneheaded decisions I seem to keep making over and over, the pains of life, and I know that I would bury myself in depression if I didn’t have Jesus. I can’t explain it really. He is overwhelming to me, and I so desire for people to have hope and love and a path of grace…and I do care. I care so much. My emotions twist and turn in some of the posts I read. I find myself lifting people up in prayer I have never met. I just want people to have hope. That’s why I care about your “salvation”. love and hugs to you.
Thank you, Stacy! 🙂 I see life itself as hope and salvation. As long as we have breath in us we have hope. 🙂
Yes sir!