Drunk
Poem Posted October 27, 2006 by James E. Nelson
In last week's installment of The Alaska Journal about the Lutheran congregation I mentioned a drunk guy who interrupted the Presbyterian worship service. Editing that chapter of the journal, I was reminded of this poem, written in 1997, about the incident. It poses a question about "decency and order" versus responding to the immediate needs of individuals. In this incident there were certain overtones to Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan also. Those are the questions the poem tries to raise.
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DRUNK
The congregation was uncomfortable as hell
when, polite as a schoolboy,
he raised his hand
to ask that I preach on adultery.
Proper Christians know
to leave their private hells at home
on Sunday morning.
He left early,
before we ate and drank Jesus
and went home satisfied.
But sanctified?
Copyright © 2006 James E. Nelson (Just Another Jim). All Rights Reserved.
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