Jesus Sure Don't Fish Here No More

It is necessary not to be Christian to appreciate the beauty and significance of the life of Christ. - Thoreau

with my wal mart sneakers and harley davidson cap

past the sober house littered with condom wrappers, empties and cigarette butts

every day i go for a walk down by the river that runs through this abandoned town i call home

ending at the mill pond created when men "damned'" it long ago

a sort of forgotten, egotistical, polluted but once money-making, industrial show

i often think about stepping out of the boat

walking on water

exercising faith

hoping it's not too late

headed for a different shore

guess, for now, i'll just have to stick to my faux, hardwood floor

'cuz jesus sure don't fish here no more

Author's Note

"Christ was a sublime actor on the stage of the world. He knew what he was thinking of when he said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." I draw near to him at such a time. Yet he taught mankind but imperfectly how to live; his thoughts were all directed toward another world. There is another kind of success than his. Even here we have a sort of living to get, and must buffet it somewhat longer. There are various tough problems yet to solve, and we must shift to live, betwixt spirit and matter, such a human life as we can." - Thoreau

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

I can picture the places you pass by on your daily walk. Cigarette butts and halfway houses....a side of life that many do not choose to see. However, those who believe in Christ do believe he is everywhere and sees everything. People in jail often turn to religion to get then through the time there. Pete, it is never too late to change your path in life. This is so well written. Kudos! Lydi**

[Pete]

yes, thanks lydi. i walk past it but am not part of it. i enjoy seeing the river but not what surrounds it and what man has done to it. blessings ... :)

[Tate Morgan]

The earth will outlast us In the end it will reclaim all we soiled.

[Pete]

not enough respect for creation. when will man ever learn - probably when it's too late as you allude. thank you for sharing ... :)

[Tate Morgan]

You’re welcome

[emmajoygreen]

Where does anger and spite originate? From where comes the need to love others more than self? What makes a person willingly take one path or - another?
Mankind is a global huddle of every facet of Man 's behaviour:. each in his/her/their own image being whatever.
Or is there something inexplicable that stands tall and survives because it merges into the need of those helpless, alone. Soldiers in the flame of battle have called for their far away mothers but in the process have offered their fear to Jesus or ccomfort from another such being. Tragically kin and dear friends pass on or away.
Faith in all its guises exists if and when IT is called upon sometimes by some. Even Jesus.
I truly understand and admire your poem, the way you feel and think is laid as a means of sharing, Pete.. but..

[Pete]

i've recently learned (the hard way) that the faith journey is not for the faint of heart. it is hard enough living in this world but never did i think such disastrous things could ever happen to me. it seems as though everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. now i truly know what jesus meant when he said, "pick up your cross and follow me". i lost everything in my life due to illness along with circumstances that i never in a million years could ever have foreseen. as i suffered through various losses, i clung to the only thing i had that couldn't be taken from me - faith! going through such things, it is only natural that we question, wonder and take stock of ourselves. i clung to faith and that is the only thing that got me through, still does and always will. it is not until we are tested that we know where we stand. it takes tremendous courage to be a believer (not nearly as easy as i thought). though i sometimes wavered, i am still a committed believer. after emerging from the fire we must be willing to step out of the boat again. after everything, i learned that faith/love is really the only thing any of us have. it is one thing to say that we have faith/are a believer when things are going okay but a totally different matter when the wheels are coming off. i suppose we all have our moments of truth. i am glad that i clung to the truth whilst i see many in such places as the small town i now find myself in perishing (not an easy thing to watch or be around). i write of my inner truth walking a narrow line in order to illustrate a truth and reality. thank you for sharing em. blessings from above (even in our living hells) ... :)

[emmajoygreen]

Would never argue with another person 's faith or opinion, believe me, please, Was merely adding my thoughts. Life throws many challenges along our path,' know it and its pain only too well. So, can but sincerely sympathize, Pete.

[Pete]

no offense taken whatsoever. we all have different life experiences along with different belief systems. all is to be respected and welcomed. thank you much for sharing ... :)

[Andrew John]

I do like this one. I'm no Jesus guy (I think there was a man - probably a great man - called Jesus, but no messiah thing), but you bring this to us in an interesting way. A good read.

[Pete]

if you do try to walk on water make sure you have a life preserver either physical or spiritual. thank you for your thoughts kind sir ... :)

[FGFRANKLIN]

I believe that Jesus lives everywhere all the time. And that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews13:8 But I don't seek to proselytize. Christ Himself must do that work having sent both the prophets and the apostles out as His lieutenants. I was watching an episode of Young Sheldon on TV last night and I heard the pronouncement from Sheldon (supposedly after having read the Bible) that "Jesus isn't God." However, if one has read and understands and believes scripture one could not possibly come to another conclusion. The Book of Isaiah says, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 Christ said of Himself, "I and the Father are One" John 10:30 He told Philip, "“Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?" John 14:9 and there are at least a dozen other related passages clearly emphasizing the Divinity of Christ. The word "trinity" however does not exist in any ecclesiastical or Biblical canon. What IS stated over and over is that the Lord and God are One. God is called Lord and the Lord God throughout scriptures such as Psalms and books of various prophets. He is also called the "Rock" as in Rock of Ages in the Books of Samuel and Isaiah. In Isaiah He says, "I am the LORD, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:18 In Revelation He calls Himself "the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, who Is and Was and is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8 So, the writers for Young Sheldon must have obviously never read the Bible. Thoreau is entitled to his opinion but he doesn't get the last and final say. God does. "Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” Romans 3:4 I am urged in my beliefs not to trust any human but only God. Indeed, the scriptures say that any man who trusts another man is "cursed". "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD." Jeremiah 17:5 The Spirit knows mankind but mankind does not know the Spirit. But I will now heed the words of Solomon who said, "God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few." And I think I've made my position and beliefs clear. But do I seek to convert? No. I do not. However, if I can echo the sentiment of Paul, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16 Every person must sort out their own salvation as Paul urged in Philippians 2:12, "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling".

[Pete]

i couldn't agree more with everything you have said. i was trying to illustrate what happens when christ (god) is not a focus - drinking, smoking, condoms, litter, pollution, money, abandoned buildings, hopelessness. i've been a believer all of my life. as far as thoreau, i think he was saying that christ was only on earth for a short time and returned to heaven with father god. we must live and survive on a fallen earth as best we can - torn between spirit and flesh. it's only natural to be somewhat influenced by surroundings try as we may to not succumb to their influence. there have been many times in my life when it hasn't been clear what is the "right" thing to do - christ never had a 15 year old son who bought a truck on craigslist, hid it in the woods down the street and was driving it around without a license and then threw things at him and refusing to talk to him when he told him that he wasn't allowed to do that. i think that what thoreau said is debatable about christ having taught man imperfectly how to live. i think that what he meant was that christ's teachings were focused on heavenly living rather than a fallen earth. look at the tantrum that christ threw in the temple when people had turned it into a marketplace and he didn't like that. i think there are times when we are torn and not sure what is proper and right. aspiring to heaven as we do, we still must find a way to live, thrive and survive on fallen earth - not an easy thing finding a middle ground. try as we may, none of us are christ or ever will be and his example of what to do in a given situation isn't always apparent. great share fgf, thank you for sharing ... :)

[FGFRANKLIN]

I can only relate what I believe. There is nothing new under the sun and all of our personal experiences are fully understood by God. It is we, as a species, who lack understanding. "You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me"? Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing"?" We are mere clay in the hand of the Potter. And He is able to destroy one vessel and make another to His liking. It is completely justifiable for anyone to do with His own things whatsoever he wishes and his own creations. But if one separates the Deity of God from that of Christ then the Cross becomes meaningless. Christ MUST be God or else there is no salvation. As St. Paul said, " For in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" Colossians 2:9 The Word of God is not a book. The Word was made flesh and dwelled among us. By the Word all things that exist or ever existed were created. As for "human nature" I believe that is our base animal instinct and what we are put here to learn to rise above rather than accept as the pinnacle of our being. The flesh struggles against the spirit but the flesh must perish for the spirit to have its work made full which is why Christ admonished that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. All our lust and anxiety perish with the flesh but that is NOT the end of life, only the beginning. That is my belief.

[Pete]

true. there is a movie called 'god on trial' where jews in auschwitz put god on trial. you should watch it sometime if you haven't already ... :)

[FGFRANKLIN]

I read Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. He was a Nazi concentration camp survivor. One of my favorite quotes from the book is, "The truth—that love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire…The salvation of man is through love and in love." I think I have seen the movie to which you refer as well. Frankl was in four different concentration camps and his mother and brother were murdered at Auschwitz. He lost his wife at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. He wrote that "suffering ceases to become suffering once we give it meaning". Being fulfilled by love is nothing anyone can take away from us. It grants us dignity beyond what even monsters are able to rob. Being one with the Creator is what Christ is and allows us to be through Him. As Christ Himself said, "On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I in you." John 14:20

[Pete]

it won't be pretty when christ returns ... :)

[FGFRANKLIN]

It won't be long. There are signs everywhere. But the majority of people are in denial like they were in the days of Noah before the flood carried them all away. "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man." Luke 17:26

[Einstein Noodle]

beautiful thoughts .. your poem and the words of Thoreau says i! according to the teachings of the Bible, mankind fell from a perfect union with God the Creator of all things .. we have inherited the mistrust and disobedience ... the pride of those first fallen ... Adam and Eve ... a simple story for simple people .. who complicate things in ever greater degrees .. we sure do have that hope .. it absolutely lies beyond the grave and in the arms of our loving Savior ... reading here on your street, my focus is put back into that better place of trust and comfort ... thanks for sharing Pete!
E.
ps. ZZ Top are the greatest .. in my opinion ..

[Pete]

oh that crafty devil! you know it e. thanks. i guess zz top bassist dusty hill passed away not too long ago - he's been replaced. they're doing a show not too far from me at the end of august and i was thinking of going ... :)

[Einstein Noodle]

i would say take the opportunity .. they are classic and soon all of us in that generation will be passed ;) love on ya brother!

[Coyote Poetry]

Honest and strong words and thoughts shared. Hard to find Jesus in our messy world. I have studied religions for many moons and I kept my Ojibwa belief. Thank you Pete for sharing the amazing poetry. Kind of poetry to create a never-ending conversation. With many endings.
Coyote

[Pete]

thank you coyote. a difficult subject for sure. all we can do is our best in an ever-increasingly difficult world ... :)

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Pete. All we can do. Is our best.

[Ken Simm.]

Your muse could see what was left and Christ could see perhaps what came of it. A deep and meaningful write.

[Pete]

thank you for shared thoughts - always appreciated. i think it is long since lost and late to the out of control party. we can only hope through faith and love no matter. we all have our crosses to bear but need not trample others on our path. leaving the world a better place is becoming a long lost art ... :)

[Ken Simm.]

Totally agree.

[Betty Hermelee]

I like the quote above and the music...I am not a believer, but the Thoreau quote appealed to me in some way..'"we must shift to live between spirit and matter" there must be a balance in life... which I take to mean we don't have spend our lives in a God-fearing manner; it's okay live your life the way you wish and not be afraid that Jesus doesn't approve....."Jesus sure don't live here no more"
Great piece!
Warmly, B

[Pete]

yes, everything in moderation betty. there is a tendency amongst us to take such matters to the extreme (nonbelievers thinking they can get away with anything and believers thinking that they must live like saints). we must find a reasonable yet realistic middle ground in an oftentimes difficult life that seems unforgiving yet nevertheless we must survive and continue walking and playing the hand we are dealt - not an easy or simple matter. i appreciate your astute thoughts as always (glad you like the music too!). thank you as always ... :)

[Betty Hermelee]

Good food for thought Pete
And you're very welcome!
Warmly
B