Tuesday, October 25, 2011

I am not qualified for this


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.
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28 comments:

  1. Janna LeadbetterOctober 25, 2011 at 5:44 AM

    Beautiful. Deep and striking.

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  2. Timothy Wayne GoodOctober 25, 2011 at 5:51 AM

    Powerfully emotive and relational.

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  3. Chris PattonOctober 25, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. Chris PattonOctober 25, 2011 at 6:42 AM

    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!

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  5. AnonymousOctober 25, 2011 at 7:18 AM

    exactly this. unqualified-- every one of us-- yet called.

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  6. Louise GallagherOctober 25, 2011 at 7:41 AM

    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.

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  7. Karen Kyle EricsonOctober 25, 2011 at 7:44 AM

    Thanks Glynn- it's perfect. : )

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  8. SheilaOctober 25, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    Hope riding on a bicycle/for seven hours/to listen.

    That convicted me, right there.

    Thanks, Glynn.

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  9. HisFireFlyOctober 25, 2011 at 8:49 AM

    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...

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  10. Jennifer @ JenniferDukesLee.comOctober 25, 2011 at 8:59 AM

    "I am not OK." Those words from Dan's book have continued to stick with me.

    Nice poem, Glynn.

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  11. Pat HattOctober 25, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    Wow wonderful write, so true whoever is qualified, brilliant piece.

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  12. Jeanne DamoffOctober 25, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    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

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  13. AnonymousOctober 25, 2011 at 12:35 PM

    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)

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  14. Brian MillerOctober 25, 2011 at 1:40 PM

    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...

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  15. Marcus GoodyearOctober 25, 2011 at 1:46 PM

    Glynn, this made my afternoon. Thanks for writing it. What an honor for Dan King and

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  16. MaureenOctober 25, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    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.

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  17. Dan KingOctober 25, 2011 at 2:14 PM

    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.

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  18. AnonymousOctober 25, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    nicely said... I do believe we could all be qualified to serve...

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  19. PatriciaOctober 25, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    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. =)

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  20. AnonymousOctober 25, 2011 at 5:39 PM

    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.

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  21. TashtooOctober 25, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    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.

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  22. AnonymousOctober 25, 2011 at 6:51 PM

    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!

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  23. LindaOctober 25, 2011 at 7:57 PM

    This is just amazing Glynn - touching and inspirational.

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  24. ayalaOctober 25, 2011 at 8:29 PM

    This is great. Thank you, Glynn.

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  25. Ann LeFloreOctober 25, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    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/

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  26. AnonymousOctober 25, 2011 at 10:41 PM

    I have to take time a review your review and just see what inspired such realness. Good words

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  27. AnonymousOctober 26, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Our greatest resource is our immense shared poverty in dealing with our poverties. But as you show, the spirit is finest there. - Brendan

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  28. UnknownOctober 26, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    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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