Poem on Matthew 13.31-35

“darker, darker grows the night

but I am just a little light.”

“Sometimes the world’s more hell than heaven,

and I am just a little leaven.”

“how great the need, it does exceed

me, an insignificant seed.”

complains the church, feeling powerless

or the christian who wants to fix a mess

but under here is found

something so profound

for being so small

is no problem at all

here the cross punctures the world’s and my sin

and the seed of resurrection can begin.

so give us “southearted audacity” and “godly nerve”

so in tasteless soup, fruitless fields, and darkest nights-we can serve.

Thanks to Helmut Thielicke for "stouthearted audacity" and "godly nerve" from "The Waiting Father-Sermons on the Parables of Jesus" Harper, 1959.