The Host's Request

"The Host’s Request"

(“First, I get this report on your divisiveness, competing with and criticizing each other. I’m reluctant to believe it, but there it is.” 1 Corinthians 11:18 [The Message])

Why do you fight over the plate when the dessert tray is full,
Why do you arrive so late and push yourself past the front
without a word, your hands moving quicker than the
usual welcome when invited to someone’s home.

There are so many vying for the head of the line,
so many trying to use their rank while others wait to dine
at the Master’s table spread first to last, pinnacle to basement
so the banquet outlasts the sojourners showing up without
RSVPs.

The word gets out, a word wrapped in yesterday’s bacon,
that the crowd of Christ has let another soufflé fall in the oven
while they argued every jot and tattle. They bring their calendars
to match the dates for Christ’s return, being sure to stock their cellars
with canned goods, crossing off the dates until they know within
a week they will be pulled higher like kitestrings performing a
full reversal.

Facedowns and finger-points occupy each free square
upon the well-worn bare wood floor. They know that they know
their favorite sayings. They must reduce their opponents to
nonsensical phrases. They stuff their faces. They turn grace
into doctrinal mazes and sing the praises of know-it-alls who
can tell you exactly how many will show up to the banquet
and how long they will be allowed to stay.

Dissertations and dialogue decay into dissensions; cleverly
disguised as the host’s best intentions. Some are swayed,
others paid to believe. Some set up shop to sell the
controversy copywrit to keep it all legal.

Some, a meek minority, feel no desire to tackle those who
cut in line. They will wait, they have been here before
(though once, a great while ago, they actually wrestled a few to the floor).
But they will wait, having been here before,
knowing the plates are never empty within the doors of
GraceHouse.

The host only requests their attention.