I am unqualified for this
even with
knowledge
money
position
no matter
I am unqualified for this
hope painted on a face
hope riding on an old bike
with a bad tire
for seven hours to listen
teach us
can you teach us
come and teach us
I an unqualified for this
I am not OK to pay for breakfast
I am not OK to find a place to sleep
hunger greater than food
poverty greater than coins
exhaustion greater than sleep
the least of these
I am unqualified for this
fill that hunger
cover that ‘not OK’
I am not qualified for this
but I am here
for Dan King
If you’d like to read the story of what it means to be unqualified, read The Unlikely Missionary by Dan King. You can read my review of The Unlikely Missionary here.
This poem was written after viewing this video.
This poem is also submitted for Open Link Night at dVerse Poets. To see more poems, please visit the site. The links will be live at 2 p.m. Central time today.
This poem was written after viewing this video.
This poem is also submitted for Open Link Night at dVerse Poets. To see more poems, please visit the site. The links will be live at 2 p.m. Central time today.
28 comments:
Beautiful. Deep and striking.
Powerfully emotive and relational.
Thanks for this, Glynn.
I had read Dan's post and then later saw the video. I think you captured the emotions, passion, and helplessness Dan felt.
Of course, those feelings are contagious...I now have them!
exactly this. unqualified-- every one of us-- yet called.
it comes unbidden
this tear rolling down my cheek
this sadness
this sigh
this knowing
we are all unqualified to fix
the problems of the world alone
We need eachother.
Thanks Glynn- it's perfect. : )
Hope riding on a bicycle/for seven hours/to listen.
That convicted me, right there.
Thanks, Glynn.
Unqualified
every single one
who went before
who goes ahead
and you
and me
but abide and let Him lead
He Who is abundantly more
thank qualified
loved this Glynn...
"I am not OK." Those words from Dan's book have continued to stick with me.
Nice poem, Glynn.
Wow wonderful write, so true whoever is qualified, brilliant piece.
Beautiful and provocative. I love the tension in this, Glynn. We are not qualified, none of us, to be the very thing He created and called us to be. And isn't that by design, that His strength might be perfected in our weakness?
Learning to be joyfully small,
Jeanne
come
listen for the Spirit
an unmerited gift
obey
be here now
come
mercies
beyond counting
least disciple
go forward
into the mystery
into the Love
of the crucified Son
(after reading your post, and pages 229 and 229 of the ragamuffin gospel)
smiles. i can relate to this one...it is easy to hide behind being or feeling unqualified...and i guess that is where faith steps in because when we go it happens...
Glynn, this made my afternoon. Thanks for writing it. What an honor for Dan King and
Thank you for including the link to Dan's video. When I was in South Africa, I had an opportunity to visit an artisan's collective, all women, and later to see where they lived. They created such beauty in the appalling conditions in which they lived. No one could be "ok" and yet every one of those women found something to praise and welcomed visitors with a smile. Theirs was an uncommon grace. I think Dan found it, too, given the looks on the faces in his video. No one is qualified to solve the problems of which Dan speaks and yet each of us is a link in the chain of solutions that can be offered.
glynn, dude... i'm kinda speechless. i don't know that anything i've ever written has inspired poetry like this. and yes, you've captured the essence of what i shared in the book and video reading.
thank you for this. i'm truly honored.
nicely said... I do believe we could all be qualified to serve...
sometimes you just need to show up... and let God direct the rest. I feel joy for Dan King in this beautiful tribute to his book. =)
Expertly strikes that tragic chord - that deep emotive blow that can only come from the tragedies of reality. A beautiful write, and one we could all stand to lend our thoughts too - rather than just an innocent read.
I am unqualified to comment on such a profound write...but you can bet I'm going to do it anyway! Like so many things, if I were to wait for certification, qualification, and other such things, I would not have done most of what I had. You only need to be human to care, to help, to aide those less fortunate and help them lead a and live a better life.
That last line explains every bit of it, it completely dissolves the fears of uncertainty or any lack of knowledge.... Because it boils down to the fact that we are here. And if we don't carry the torch, who will? Never mind that we don't have matches in our pocket or the knowledge of re-lighting the torch if it should go out while in our hands... Sometimes the need is simply greater than the fear and poem rings that truth very loudly..... bravo!
This is just amazing Glynn - touching and inspirational.
This is great. Thank you, Glynn.
such a deep powerful emotional write really gets you thinking on this one it is a great piece and amazing word flow
http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/10/25/the-groom-of-the-dead-bride/
I have to take time a review your review and just see what inspired such realness. Good words
Our greatest resource is our immense shared poverty in dealing with our poverties. But as you show, the spirit is finest there. - Brendan
So good, Glynn. I will definitely check out your links. Love that last line, 'but I am here' - yes, yes, yes.
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