Random Poem

There was envy in the glances that a lovely woman cast
At the hairdo of her neighbor while the sacrament was passed
And a Young Woman that I noticed, though a timid lass and shy
Watched a youthful priest intently through the corner of her eye
As he sat behind the table where the sacrament was spread
She was not remembering Jesus nor the prayer the priest had said.
There was nothing reverential in the things the cub scout drew
On the pages of the hymnbook 'til the sacrament was through
Not a thought of Jesus' passion entered careless elder's minds
As they whispered to each other and the girls they sat behind.
And the high priest's brow was furrowed as he stole a furtive glance
At his checkbook's dismal story of his failures in finance.
There were hundreds in the chapel, but the worshipers were few
And I couldn't help but wonder what the Lord himself would do
I couldn't help but wonder what the Lord himself would say
If he walked into a meeting where his saints behaved that way
Would his loving eyes be saddened? Would his countenance be grim?
As he there observed and listened to a meeting meant for Him?

I heard this poem in a John Bytheway talk on tape while I was on my mission years ago. For some reason it has stuck with me and it has been rattling around inside my brain lately. I like the message-- that it reminds us that the purpose of our worship is to glorify Christ and to really put heart and soul into our worship, not merely attendance.

Maybe putting this out into the ether will help keep the poem from wandering around my head during my Professional Responsibility class!