Ken Cooper’s “POETIC PRELUDE” brings to life Bible EXAMPLES of how Truth speaks to EACH ONE and so blessing each and ALL of us!
Sunday, January 16th, 2022
By Ken Cooper, poet from Great Britain
Ken Cooper’s “POETIC PRELUDE” brings to life Bible EXAMPLES of how Truth speaks to EACH ONE and so blessing each and ALL of us!
from the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on “Truth” for January 23, 2022
(CedarS Met by John & Lindsey Biggs is posted & will be emailed when the audio is in.)
- Ken’s YouTube poem “Truth has no conditions, so prove, so practice” makes the point that “conditions” are a trap, – don’t let them in for a moment!
- Ken’s 2nd YouTube second poem “God Is Our Freedom” focuses on the promise made by Jesus “… ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
[Ken writes:] “Know thyself, and God will supply the wisdom……” (SH p. 571:16-17 to wisdom) Wisdom is an understanding of Truth.
With understanding also comes practice and demonstration, for Truth understood is proved in practice. When we know that 2+2=4 this becomes a building block for all our mathematics, the grain of mustard seed which grows into a tree. The weekly lesson is our blessed building block, growing daily. It is our Rock! It is this Rock we stand on: “God is The Rock, His work is always perfect; everything He does is always right. The one God. HE IS TRUTH, who can be absolutely trusted, for He can do no wrong. He’s ever just and right. You can rely on Him.” (compiled translations, Responsive Reading).
The wish of Solomon, and the promise of God to him was for wisdom: “Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart;” This promise of God is to all mankind, – the guarantee that we may all understand and know Truth, – the nature of God Himself, the source of what we are. The Golden Text this week establishes “Wisdom” as the knowledge of Truth, specifically as “the desire of truth in the inner most being”. When we have this same desire, we have the same result, – we fulfill what we know! This is what Solomon achieved.
When I was involved in management training, one of the key phrases was “Like attracts like”. The desire for Truth results in Truth being recognised and experienced. This follows for all of God’s synonyms. It works both ways. Truth sees itself manifested, – nothing else is possible.
It is true wisdom to rely on, and hold fast, to what is True!! (and vice versa!). If told “2+2=5” our immediate reaction is to say “NO, it’s 4!” Our holding on to Truth must be as quick and sure! This brings instant healing.
The poem “Truth has no conditions, so prove, so practice” makes the point that “conditions” are a trap, – don’t let them in for a moment! “If” is the word to avoid, – for Truth does not do “if”. Truth is. As Love is unconditional, so is Truth. It does not vary depending on what you are doing or not doing. “Truth, independent of doctrines and time-honoured systems, knocks at the portal of humanity” (citation S5). It doesn’t matter who is applying the simple 2+2=4, – it is there for everyone. Jesus proved what is true: “WHAT IS TRUE IS ALWAYS TRUE THROUGHOUT INFINITY!” And with this Truth comes the ability to prove and practice. This is the message of the lesson, and the conclusion of the poem: “TRUTH IS UNCONDITIONAL. AND IN PRACTICE, SO ARE YOU”. We cannot but help practice what we know, and this is our purpose of being. We do nothing of ourselves, hence the perfection in Truth of what we express and do! This is the unconditional Truth.
The second poem “God Is Our Freedom” focuses on the promise made by Jesus “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (citation B17/John 8:31, 32) , and we have this confident statement
“Behold the beauty of this Truth, it isn’t something strange:
Despite false evidence we see, Truth will never change!”
When John saw in Revelation the true nature of heaven, (cit. B21/Revelation 21) it was not a far-off vision. WE DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR TRUTH TO BE TRUE OR BECOME TRUE. IT IS TRUE, NOW. We do not have to wait for healing. GOD IS KNOWING YOU NOW.
GOD knows the Truth, knows Himself, and there is no greater freedom than life in His infinity.
“Spirit’s breath is Life itself: this truth it maketh free:
With open eyes and Truth at hand, in freedom you will be!”
This breath of Life gave life to Hannah in the birth of her son Samuel, (two lives fulfilled) (Section 3/cit. B7/I Sam. 1) and full health to the daughter of the woman of Canaan (Section 5/cit. B15/Matt. 15:22). Life and Truth are hand in hand round each of us. “Truth is a revelation” (cit. S4/117), and our freedom is the corresponding fact.
The message of the lesson is the beautiful Truth that we can all PRACTICE BEING WHAT WE ARE.
“Truth is revealed. It needs only to be practiced”. (cit. S32/174)
IT IS WHAT GOD IS ALREADY DOING. IN WISDOM WHAT WE KNOW.
Copies of the poems are available in pdf format in color and B&W as DOWNLOADS at the top right of the online version of this Poetic Prelude to this week’s Bible Lesson as well as of CedarS online Met this week. (Audio of the Met has been added online, so the email will following soon.) The full range of Ken’s videos can be found on KenGCooperPoetry. Ken’s email is kengcooper@btinternet.com.
All Ken’s poetry can be found on Ken Cooper Poetry.