What’s in a Name?

As most all of you know, neither Hannah nor I grew up in the inner city.  In fact, we both grew up in quite different environments.  Me in a small farming community and Hannah in the quiet suburbs.  When we began to feel directed to urban ministry there were a lot of questions in our minds; a lot to think about.  We spent months praying and struggling with this calling.  During this time my relationship with God grew stronger.  I spent more time praying and reading the Word than I ever had before.  One day while having my scheduled devotional time I ran across a poem that stood out to me enough that I wrote it down.  Several months later after the decision had been made for us to move to St. Louis we were looking for a name for our new blog, something that would be relevant to the city.  I was looking through my journal for ideas and found the poem, What Christ Said.  It reads as follows:

What Christ Said

I said, “Let me walk in the fields.”

He said, “No, walk in the town.”

I said, “There are no flowers there.”

He said, “No flowers, but a crown.”

I said, “But the skies are black,

there is nothing but noise and din.”

And he wept as he sent me back,

“There is more,” he said, “there is sin.”

I said, “But the air is thick,

And fogs are veiling the sun.”

He answered, “Yet souls are sick,

And souls in the dark undone.”

I said, “I shall miss the light,

And friends will miss me, they say.”

He answered, “Choose tonight,

If I am to miss you, or they.”

I pleaded for time to be given.

He said, “Is it hard to decide?

It will not seem hard in Heaven

To have followed the steps of your Guide.”

I cast one look at the fields,

Then set my face to the town;

He said, “My child, do you yield?

Will you leave the flowers for the crown?”

Then into his hand went mine;

And into my heart came he;

And I walk in a light divine,

The path I had feared to see.

By: George MacDonald

 

Tags: Christianity, Compassion, prayer, St. Louis, Urban Ministry