from ‘drafts2’

fragments, wonders: Jesus in my temple.’

drafts2 is about how I am composing, designing my writing and my readings. This blog is about and is my process. At http://www.charlesosewalt.com I published my first poem today , 25 November, in over twenty years in a series I am working on- ‘fragments, wonders: Jesus in my temple.’ The scripture that follows moved me to ask of myself, and to prayerfully ask of my God: Lord, what tables do you need to overturn in my temple?’ This series is entitled, ‘fragments, wonders’ because I am sure, absolutely sure, that I have many tables. I can only see a fragment of my tables, a section of my temple. I need a wondrous Savior to help me see. Maybe I should get rid of all, any tables? Maybe not an empty table, but an open space? If you can, tell me-comment on what you think of the poem below and how it is composed. Does the repetition of ‘never’ work? Does the word ‘house’ instead of temple distract? I chose ‘house’ to invite all in; it is-my implication-a house because I am still not a temple. It is his house, but until it is clean, his home can’t be a temple. His temple and mine. Me.

So, do these word choices work?

Prayerfully- Lord overthrow, overturn my tables.

’wonderful things’

Matthew 21:12-17

Jesus at the Temple

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.“It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’”

And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

fragments, wonders

Jesus in his father’s house, my temple

I have decorated your house, my Lord, with tables of coins from different realms, animals for others to barter, to buy, to sacrifice. I bring too much, never enough, never all

never an empty table.