Me:  Did you go to church this morning?

Prodigal:  Yes, I did but something about church wasn’t right.

Me:  Well, Let me share a poem with you.

 

Envy went to church this morning.

Being legion, he sat in every other pew.

Envy fingered wool and silk fabrics.

Hung price tags on suits and neckties.

Envy paced through the parking lot

Scrutinizing chrome and paint.

Envy marched through to the chancel with the choir

During the processional….

Envy prodded plain-jane wives,

And bright wives married to milquetoast dullards,

And kind men married to knife-tongued shrews.

Envy thumped at widows and widowers,

Jabbed and kicked college girls without escorts,

Lighted invisible fires inside khaki jackets.

Envy conferred also this morning

With all of his brothers.

He likes his Sunday scores today

But not enough;

Some of his intended clients

Had sipped an antidote marked Grace

And wore a holy flower named Love.

by  Elva McAllaster

 

Philippians 1:15-16

Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will:  The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org