92. All That I Have [100 poems challenge]

92.          All That I Have

All that I have?
This is no small thing that He asks.
Did He ask it of the fishermen?
They are poor;
All they have is so little,
Surely no great sacrifice …
And yet …
It was, truly, all that they had,
And they left their nets.

Such faith,
For a promise I don’t understand—
A blessing anticipated
At a price demanded now.
So much He asks me to give up,
To change who I am
And where I stand,
To cast away what I was and had,
And to follow …
But for what in return?

All that I have
For all that He offers.

28 July 2013

Comments: This is the first overtly religious poem in the collection, and it’s a bit of a surprise to me that it’s come so late. There have been hints of faith and a sense of God in some of the other poems, but this one is more direct in its message. While I don’t hide my religious belief, it is something that is quite personal for me, and although most of this blog pretty much presents me as I am, there are some deeper more personal aspects about which I am a little more reserved in a public forum. Anyway, this poem is written from the point of view of the rich young man in the gospel of Mark, who wanted to follow Jesus but who, on being told to sell all he had and follow, went away sorrowing. Of course it can also be read in the personal first person. Although there is a specific Christian dimension to the poem, I think that aspects of it apply to any moments of change and/or sacrifice that we make in our lives.

Themes to come: 93. Give Up; 94. Last Hope; 95. Advertisement; 96. In the Storm; 97. Safety First

Explanation about the 100 poems challenge here.