Some Thoughts on Our Homeless Community

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Tom Bolton

I have been thinking this week about a few of the basic lessons I have learned about my community and about myself, as I have served the past few months at the Cold Weather Intervention in Milwaukee where I have helped out this past winter. Many lessons have been about me, some have been about how much I grew to love our guests in a short time, and other times I have been just delighted about the missionary servants in my home church.

First, I have consistently found that even though I sleep less than I plan to when I staff the mission at Divine Intervention, I get the best inspirations for meditating and writing during the wee hours of the night in that place.

I also find that I love to listen to, and come to understand, guests, who are much more like me than I expected I would find.

Along those lines, I have discovered that I have agonized over folks who had to leave the community for various reasons. I miss them as much as family. I pray for them like family. I have learned that I know much less about addictions, and particularly about alcoholism, than I thought I knew. I have confirmed though that addictions are as scary as I have thought for decades. I am right to fear my own addictive personality.

I am able to say NO better than I thought. It is still not my favored mode though.

I have more confidence in my ministry than I knew before.

I have learned too that there are named and un-named disciples in my home church who support my missions creatively and lovingly. My friend Val has made it a project to find the supplies we need, and has even thought of things that we needed, when I was too dense to realize it. She thought of air fresheners to add to our supplies; it never occurred to me even when I encountered a few stinky spots. Duh! I just thought that was part of our environment. An anonymous member of our prayer team, who sometimes confuses me with my son John (I think I really should be flattered!), prays for me when I am ill and can’t figure out what to make of it. She also prays and sends me cards to offer up her prayers with those (like some of the guests) whom I have lifted up in prayer. And she sends money to help support the missions! How cool is that.

When I am wondering if there are real disciples in the Church, some come and help me–just because they know what they are called to do. No pressures from me. They just come and help me. Wow–that inspires me!

Truly I heard the gentle brogue tonight,
a soft, genteel, lilt in his voice.
He could sell snow to Eskimo, would sell, and
yet I heard the uncertainty there, the
yearning for his mother’s word-caress.

So alone, he wanted to be loved.
Long ago, as I saw the homeless, there
were no Irish there, and I crossed the
street away.
Somehow I didn’t see Irish there,
but my eyes were welded, and I saw
What I would see.

How many Germans walk in here,
my eyes worn, patched now, but acute?
On the southside of Milwaukee, Germans
camp, and come in from the cold, heads high still,
these blond, grey gods, not wanting to be seen here.
Are there more homeless Germans than when
I was blind?

I saw so clearly when I was blind.
The weld on my eyes kept out the light pollution
and I saw what I would see.
So I came into the Light and
saw what I could see, when I came in,
and saw the sights not so sharp as what
I saw when I was blind.

C Thomas Bolton 12-31-11

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Last Words

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Tom Bolton

Last Words

Hallelujiah! Glory Hallelujiah!
This is so great today–today I see it.
The righteous man, that old sinner who
started listening to God,
Now he is blessed!
He is blessed in beautiful ways.
It is God who blessed him,
and his kin are blessed too–
Blessed through him–by God!

He wrote his obituary, and its a good one.
God is in it. God wrote it. God loves it.
He isn’t afraid of being bad news.
He’s good news.
God is in him, and that is the news.

There are poor and sick folks who recall him,
Because he’s God’s man,
The righteous man lives on,
He’s God’s man,
and his work endures.
His Word endures–in the righteous man.

C 2012 Thomas Bolton

About 13 years ago, I started writing poetry in response to scripture.  My first poem in 1998, after a 30 year break from poetry, was my interpretation of Psalm 112.  I called it The Righteous Man.  It started me on a new path of writing.  Since then, I have often included a fifteen minute poetry exercise for my adult classes.  Last night, I had my group in Disciple Bible Study write on Psalm 112.  After some protests, they did a great job.

The poem above is my effort at that exercise on Psalm 112 last night.

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Still Deep in the Word

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Tom Bolton

These are my next three stanzas of On Word, Law and Life, as I work through Psalm 119, exploring how to live a righteous life.

On Word, Law and life

G. Grabbing His Name, Not Going to Fear

God-of-great-love, You give me hope, and I
grab your name and your word each night,
Glomming onto fear some nights, I recall God’s word, and in heaven there will be no suffering. God is good.
God-of-grace, here we suffer, or we suffer with those-who-suffer, and
God, yes, I grab onto your word.
Greedy for your comfort–I confess I am greedy–I
grasp your law, and at the threshold, I find
Goodness and comfort in the words.
Growing haughty and hot in anger at night,
holding onto fear in spite of myself, I
Grasp your name and hold it on my lips.
Going to a joyful place, in the Word, as in Psalms,
Joyfully Blessed!
Joyful in God’s word.
Grabbing hold of your name, God, this night,
Going away from fear,
Not going to deep sorrow, I turn to joy.
Guiding principles gild my heart now, and
God, you give me hope. Hope. Hope. Hope.

H. Hope Rises, Hope is High

Hope. I have hope. Hope is my inheritance.
I hold tightly to your words and look into them; it is my promise.
Heart-deep, heart-filled, I hear your blessing–my hope. Hope. 
Hearing my life over again–deep inside, and
Holding onto your word–I hasten to your calm, your guide.
Hesitating once, now with no halt, I
hasten to obey this day.
Hemp-ropes are tied about me, binds of my people, and I ignore
these binds today, positive in the word.
Heightened in this night, time perverted, I rise up,
hearing the word clearly in my head too,
Hopeful, friendly to brothers and sisters here in your word,
I have hope–Joy in the Word!
Hopeful, your mercy and justice find us;
hopeful, we heed these words of mercy–
Blessed! Joy in your word!

I.  In Judgement, Knowing

Jubilation!  I know how you treat me!
As you promised, you treat me just so.
Judgement and knowledge are in your word,
and you teach me each day, because I see
your commandments as jewels.
Just then, again I thought I might wander
away from you again, but I know that in suffering, I yearned again
to hold onto your word.
Joy in the Word, Blessed!
Joy in your word! Teach me.
Judged by haughty and self-righteous hedonists,
I am defamed some days, but I do best when I set these things far away and
obey what you put before me.
Jaundiced and cold, calloused really,
they don’t see me, and miss you, Lord,
but I am happy again, enriched by your word.
Joyful in the word, blessed!
Once I suffered and I learned from you:
Joy and Hope!
Judged by the measures of this fanciful society,
your words fill me more than any
Jeopardy winnings. You are my prize.

–C 2012 Thomas M. Bolton

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Ruth Ann Knows this Night

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Tom Bolton

Miguel is full of malarkey tonight,
and I have been told to send him away,
and I know to do it, I need to do it,
but the covenant is hard tonight.

The food is seasoned to perfection today,
and everyone relishes it and loves each other especially tonight.
And I invite Miguel and his lady to eat with us before
they trek to a place they don’t yet know.

We speak of dementia and broken livers,
and she knows he is broken hard,
but she protects him and mothers him and keeps him close, hurrying him briefly,
protecting him, holding him, and denying the truth.

And they leave, and we inside are
Comfortable, warm and quiet, but
we miss Miguel tonight, miss his charm, miss his bologna, and
contemplate broken livers and dementia and
charming man-childs and missing cohorts, and
those who have fled the covenant.

It is quiet and calm tonight,
dark and misty,
and we fear for those outside.
Outside.
Outside of this home, men and
women remember homes and
dream.

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On Word, Law, and Life: First 6 stanzas

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Tom Bolton

On Word, Law and Life

Along the Way

Aware, aware, finally aware that the righteous are blessed, those who stay close to the Lord, steeped in the Word, blessed are they.
Alive, alive, we are finally alive as we, wide-eyed disciples, search out our master, search  deep into the living–that Word from the beginning.
Aware of the way,
they follow His way,
Active, acting, aware and acting on precepts proscribed and written, carefully acting and awesome aware.
Alleluia and Amen! Obedient, praying, discerning, firming–finding the way,
A student, I study, searching the Word,
Today in Law, in the Word.
Abandoned, yes, once abandoned, no more
Alone, I listen, I obey, I try to obey.
Alive, I too live; alive, I give thanks;
in my spirit, alive; keep me right, o Lord.

Blessed in the Way

Born pure, we young struggle and rot, seeking pristine purity, blessed in the Way, this Word.
Breathing in this book, this blessed, blessed Word,
I try, try, try to stay on the narrow path, teetering, tending my weak joints, buckling.
Braving this world, my heart beating, awash in Your Word,
Let me be right and pure today, blessed.
Blessed be your name, O Lord, I thank you, blessed to learn the law that I resist. Yes, I resist.
Beating your Word across my tongue, across my mouth,
Blessed to remember, to repeat, to recall.
Joy in the Word, Blessed!
Joy in the Word.
Beguiled in the reflection of your Word, blessed by your Way.
Bejeweled in your journal, your Word close at hand. Blessed Amen!

Commanded, Living Free

Commanded to live, keep me free, alive, awash in Your Word, cleansed in Your Word, 
Cleansed, clinging to Commandments, relationships freed, miracles clearly seen.
Clinging, clawing my way through this strange New World, keep me, hold me in Your Word.
My soul clamors, longing for Your Word, even when I jerk to deny, clamoring for Your Word.
Condemned, firm in the center, encircled in me, we, greedy ones, circle around, condemned, away from Your Word.
Aware, and back, and in Your Command,
Contempt burns me, and faltering I come back.
Contempt around me, I seize the Word,
alive and aware, alive in Your Word.
Clearly these Words guide me, alive, with joy,
At peace, mes amis, alive in Your Word. Amen.
Condemned, away from the Word, was Esau hated, or away–simply away–away from the Word?

Decreed to Live

Death, I am close to death.                   
Down, I am so down some days. Give me new life.
Done, it is done, and I told you all that I have done, and I am excited–you answered. Decreed to live, teach me the decrees.
Decrees do escape me today. Will you teach me gently?
Do not dumb it down as I reflect on today’s miracles.
Drowning in my own tears, can it be? Down, down, grant me strength.
Divert my wandering eyes from idols of the world. Delight me in surprising ways with the Word. Yes, surprise me.
Descending not low, not now, I rise up in new height, with these decrees of life.
Dragging my Bible with me everywhere these days, digging in the decrees, keep me righteous Lord; don’t embarrass me.
Delighted, I am delighted when I understand your word. Not demands so much, your decrees work through me–my partner.

Elevated, Enlightened

Enough! Again enough! Educated in your laws, I obey them to the end. Endless.
Enlighten me each day; fill my mind gently, and I will hold your heavenly edicts in my heart.
Encircling this earthly tabernacle on this rolling path, I am giddy now; keep me joyful, heavenly one.
Enjoying the rich, enriching edicts of your word, ground me, keep me here,
Ensnared not by these get-rich-quick schemes so frequent here.
Joy in the Word, Blessed!
Joy in your Word.
Entrust your word to me, deep in me, so that I can understand fear, and even then, love you.
Even now these harsh words of too many are drenching me, but
Evasion of word-heaps comes easily, secure in your righteous regulations.
Entering the quiet, cocoon space of your guidance, hearing your word deep in me,
Entering new life, I am right.

Freedom Walk

Freely I embraced your blessings, Lord, and finally I find your promises in me. 
And firmly I find in You the answer to those who taunt me here, and
Fully I trust, grab tight to your word.
Freely I find hope in your truth, Holy One;
Freely I trust in your word–it is so.
Following your teaching forever and forever, I obey.
Freely I will walk where I wish, freely following you, fresh-found mentor-friend,
For I sought out your free guidance, and you favored me.
Forthright let me speak your fresh word freely, and
Feel free and brave with bosses and family.
Joyful in your word, blessed!
Joyful in God’s word!
Fully I meditate, and open my hands, offered freely in prayer,
Fully I meditate; not my will, but yours, I freely offer.

C Thomas M Bolton, January 2012

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On Word, Law and Life: stanzas 4 through 6

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Tom Bolton

Continuing this piece based on Psalm 119, contemplating study of the Word, covenant today and life–life in hope.

On Word, Law and Life

D. Decreed to Live

Death, I am close to death.
Down, I am so down some days. Give me new life.
Done, it is done, and I told you all that I have done, and I am excited–you answered. Decreed to live, teach me the decrees.
Decrees do escape me today. Will you teach me gently?  
Do not dumb it down as I reflect on today’s miracles.
Drowning in my own tears, can it be? Down, down, grant me strength.
Divert my wandering eyes from idols of the world. Delight me in surprising ways with the Word. Yes, surprise me.
Descending not low, not now, I rise up in new height, with these decrees of life.
Dragging my Bible with me everywhere these days, digging in the decrees, keep me righteous Lord; don’t embarrass me.
Delighted, I am delighted when I understand your word. Not demands so much, your decrees work through me–my partner.

E. Elevated, Enlightened

Enough! Again enough! Educated in your laws, I obey them to the end. Endless.
Enlighten me each day; fill my mind gently, and I will hold your heavenly edicts in my heart.
Encircling this earthly tabernacle on this rolling path, I am giddy now; keep me joyful, heavenly one.
Enjoying the rich, enriching edicts of your word, ground me, keep me here,
Ensnared not by these get-rich-quick schemes so frequent here.
Joy in the Word, Blessed!
Joy in your Word.
Entrust your word to me, deep in me, so that I can understand fear, and even then, love you.
Even now these harsh words of too many are drenching me, but
Evasion of word-heaps comes easily, secure in your righteous regulations.
Entering the quiet, cocoon space of your guidance, hearing your word deep in me,
Entering new life, I am right.

F.  Freedom Walk

Freely I embraced your blessings, Lord, and finally I find your promises in me.
And firmly I find in You the answer to those who taunt me here, and
Fully I trust, grab tight to your word.
Freely I find hope in your truth, Holy One; 
Freely I trust in your word–it is so.
Following your teaching forever and forever, I obey.
Freely I will walk where I wish, freely following you, fresh-found mentor-friend,
For I sought out your free guidance, and you favored me.
Forthright let me speak your fresh word freely, and
Feel free and brave with bosses and family.
Joyful in your word, blessed!
Joyful in God’s word!
Fully I meditate, and open my hands, offered freely in prayer,
Fully I meditate; not my will, but yours, I freely offer.

–January 2012 Tmb

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Deep In This Night

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Tom Bolton

I wrote this after my devotion time at about 3:00 am on Saturday. It had been a good night for me.

Deep In This Night (Morning?)

Time perverted, I grasped this stress
in me, deep in the night, and I
shook it, shook it and tossed it aside.

No longer my own, deep in this night,
I seized the word and held it so tight,
My knuckles whitened, my face red.

And the snores lulled me to calm,
Softly echoing one side of the room
to the other, and soft gaelic pipes filled me too.

Employed by Christ, I felt it on this plain,
here on this soft, moist, roamy earth,
and tonight for this moment, my employment seemed simple.

Sometimes I have had nothing, sometimes
I have drowned in too much, but
Tonight there is just the right measure,
Time perverted, and stress freed.

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