When gifts become burdens

age and experience are twin gifts

they are also twin burdens

 

as gifts they offer

extended horizons

multiplicity of insights

patterns and disturbances of learning
surprises unforeseen with power to shock and amaze

nurture and renew 

a veritable pantheon of choice and resources

 

a pallet of undreamt colours,

combinations and rainbow promise

the leggo blocks of new possibilities and creative reshaping

for reaching out

even of innovation

teaching

discerning

developing

nurturing

including and embracing

change
people

circumstances unimagined

 

uncertainty and threat (real or imagined)

overflowing possibilities

emerging opportunities

reveal an underside, 

dark, oppressive expectations and demands 

in the guise of seeking-after-help

and

the gifts 

become burdens

and the burdens barriers

 

soon

appreciation that encourages

delights

energises and celebrates 

lies buried under a tsunami of expectation 

that wondrous gifts and graces 

generosity and insights

are simply other hearts and minds 

humanity

persons

all elements and essential parts

of one Body

living in one hope

witnessing with all in obedient service

are there to be used and abused

assumed

demanded of
exhausted 

monstered and distorted 

at beck and call to 

unthought and unsought insights, 

understandings 

revelations 

 

all 

while a plethora of gifted 

available 

resourceful

prophetic 

visionary 

Called-of-God servants

await 

undetected

unheard

 

and the generous heart 

and frustrated voice 

and weary bodies 

scream in frustration and dismay

as gift and demand conflict

and tear apart

 

and the Body agonizes

while God’s people wander in dismay and frustration 

seeking inclusion

longing for their voices to be heard

their presence to be acknowledged

their gifts and insights received to give new life

 

and so

the fear margin grows 

the grace margin shrinks

and in the sound of silence

weeping is heard

as the Spirit mysteriously moves

unacknowledged

Christ watches 

unseen

and God waits at hand

and waits

and waits …

 

© Antony M Floyd amf-20220108

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