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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=575334" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>The Ballad of the Debtors and Trespassors</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">There are old country chapels set back from the times<br>whose quaintness enlivens the heart<br>and inspires the cadence of old country rhymes<br>or the light in that old country art.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Though the pews may all creak and the carpets may shed, <br>renovation is never pursued, <br>and the sheep in the flock may be very few head<br>but their faith cannot be misconstrued.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">In these parts, they worship with time-honored praise, <br>the creedo passed down and well-known, <br>and though they’re aware that there are other ways, <br>those ways ought best keep to their own.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">‘Twas in one such church on one fresh Sunday morn’<br>when, with hymns sung and pittance plates passed, <br>and the Lord’s prayer begun, that the standoff was born, <br>when the debtors and trespassers clashed.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">It was sparked by an innocent rift in renditions, <br>(though most conflicts start this way, true ;) <br>with worshipers from two tangential traditions<br>hard-pressed to know quite what to do.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">For the good book is printed with some variation, <br>with nuances subtle and meek, <br>and many a meaning gets tweaked in translation<br>from Latin or Hebrew or Greek.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">In the words that Christ gave, once obeisance is wrought, <br>and dominion incarnate is laid, <br>and nutrition requested, forgiveness is sought, <br>and a syntax choice needs to be made.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">With the disputed simile breeched<br>and the group recitation mish-mashed, <br>their beseeching soon ebbed to sheer absence of speech, <br>when the debtors and trespassers clashed.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">In that vacuous silence, a throat-clearing noise, <br>a pious and virtuous “a-hem, ”<br>was more about protest without breaking poise<br>than about any movement of phlegm.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The discomfort passed, the service proceeded<br>to the message of guilt and redemption, <br>and seemingly, both of the factions receded<br>and gave it their fullest attention.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">But ‘neath that veneer of devotion unbroken<br>each faithful church-goer was fraught<br>with confusion at why the whole flock had not spoken<br>their wording, as everyone ought.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">For the words on the tongues of the holy are more<br>than just evangelic panache; <br>and statements of faith soon became acts of war<br>when the debtors and trespassers clashed.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">After the service, the factions vacated<br>like minutemen marching to battle, <br>and, in the vestibule, soon separated<br>like two herds of distempered cattle.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Divided so, they then proceeded to brood<br>on the word and the law and the letter, <br>with their, “Shouldn’t we…, ” “Didn’t they…, ” “Wasn’t that rude, ..”<br>and “My goodness, don’t they know better? ”</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then, since the gospel commands us to mission<br>and set true the ways of the heathen, <br>each sent an envoy to their competition<br>reminding them what they believed in.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">But each side’s appeal to reason soon ended<br>in imminent mutual backlash<br>for debt unforgiven was trespass offended<br>when debtors and trespassers clashed.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">An unspoken truce then softened hurt prides, <br>for ham dinners longed to be eaten; <br>but though they went home, each of the sides<br>was convinced that they hadn’t been beaten.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And sure enough, the very next week, <br>when the same intersection was crossed, <br>humble pronouncement soon grew into shriek<br>and clamor to prove who was boss.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">A bystander there uninformed of the sooth<br>would never know how the prayer ended, <br>bowled over by back and forth uproarious proof<br>of egos not actually mended.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The shouted chants of each side’s chosen harangue<br>left the poor Reverend whiplashed<br>as his church took the air of a homecoming game, <br>when debtors and trespassers clashed.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Doffed in Sunday attire, they took it outside<br>where they heightened the stakes up a notch, <br>and went to great pains to posture their pride<br>for anyone who cared to watch.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The debtors hung out giant signs declaring<br>“No Trespassing Here – This Means You! ”<br>The trespassers sent all the debtors quite long, glaring<br>notices of payment due.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And the second ignored the posts of the first, <br>and the first sent the second no cash, <br>and composure was strained ‘til the bubble was burst<br>when the debtors and trespassers clashed.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">It’s hard to know when the established cold war<br>grew into an all-out crusade, <br>but tensions ignited and pots boiled o’er<br>and at some point, the first strike was made.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And the good Christian folk of that parish so small, <br>with their chosen phrase flying before, <br>took up their arms and answered the call<br>to vanquish the Christians next door.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">They formed up in ranks; two armies so humble<br>they would’ve made Gideon nervous, <br>but each side convinced that at this point, to fumble<br>would do the Lord’s prayer a disservice.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">To their credit, both sides showed unwavering conviction<br>and faced off the foe unabashed<br>as the battle began for discretion of diction<br>when debtors and trespassers clashed.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">When the smoke finally cleared, in the light of the day<br>it was hard to declare who did win; <br>for the last of the trespassers had passed away, <br>and the last of the debtors cashed in.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Oh, up in that endless Elysian field, <br>past the gates where St. Peter presides, <br>the pious bow down to the glory revealed, <br>and the contrite and faithful reside.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">But the newest recruits to the heavenly host<br>had one last Earthly burden to shed; <br>As a body, they thundered past pearly gatepost<br>with a drive unbefitting the dead.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">They sought the one man who could settle their plight, <br>who could sort out the wheat from the chaff, <br>who could shine through the haze with His God-given light<br>when the debtors and trespassers clashed.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">At His father’s right hand, they discovered Him sitting, <br>and begged Him to offer recount<br>of the exact wording that He’d been transmitting<br>that glorious day on the mount.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">He considered the factions, so fervidly split, <br>each expecting a full vindication, <br>He thought back for a moment, then shrugged just a bit, <br>and offered up this revelation: </div><div style="margin:10px 0">“I don’t really recall; it was so long ago, <br>and I had such a sermon to give; <br>But though I’ve forgotten, one thing I do know<br>is I quite clearly said to forgive.”</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Lord, grant us the sight to know when our disputes<br>are truly so much balderdash, <br>and let us not tread down that dangerous route<br>where the debtors and trespassers clashed.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">(ARH 4/15/10)</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=Adam+Hoagland">Adam Hoagland</a><div class=q>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=575334" data-title="The Ballad of the Debtors and Trespassors de Adam Hoagland" data-description="There are old country chapels set back from the times
whose quaintness enlivens the heart
and inspires the cadence of old country rhymes
or the light in that old country art.

Though the pews may all creak and the carpets may shed, 
renovation is ..."></div>
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