Ken’s “POETIC POSTLUDES” that share Bible EXAMPLES of our joy & freedom, in our whole being & whole experience.
Thursday, November 17th, 2022
By Ken Cooper, poet from Great Britain
Ken Cooper’s “POETIC POSTLUDES” that share Bible EXAMPLES of our joy and freedom, in our whole being and whole experience.
inspired by The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“Soul and Body”
for November 20, 2022
- In Ken’s poem, “Keep Your Violin in Tune”, read by Sue, we see the importance of keeping in tune with, and aligned to, God, and the beautiful music that follows!
- In Ken’s poem, “Just Say in a Word” (read by my son James), we see the impact of speaking with authority, an authority that overcomes time and distance because it is the Word itself!
[Ken] “This week’s Golden Text gives an insight into immortal man, our true nature: “With all my heart, my whole being, and at all times, I will praise the Lord. When the poor and humble hear, they too will be glad and rejoice.” Psalms 34:2 . Our purpose and duty is to bear witness to God, to spread the Gospel, and we praise God by our good actions – running in the race set before us, as the Responsive Reading sets out:
“Don’t you know that in a race everyone tries their very best to win, but only one receives the prize? We must each do the same, run our very best, aim to win, focus on the finishing line!
So, like every athlete, go into serious training with discipline and self-control in all things. But while they do it to win a crown of fading leaves, we do it to receive an eternal crown that we will wear for ever!
So I do not run without a goal, but with steadfast determination, in tip-top condition! I’m not just a shadow boxer, – I am fighting to progress, to clearly win every round!
Therefore I keep my body under control and make it my slave, – I’m staying alert, so that there’s no chance I might be disqualified from this divine race having preached about it to others.”
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
This is the commitment required of the first commandment, to give my all, with heart, soul, and might, (see cit. B1, Deuteronomy 6:4) – in other words, “my whole being”. See the finishing line and know that you are already there!! It takes no time or distance! This becomes our full reflection and praise of God. Paul continues with what this really means:
“Dear brethren, God is perfect goodness. So I beseech you that with God’s help you take your everyday life, whatever you may be doing, and place it before God as an offering, consecrated and acceptable to the Almighty, worthy of both Him and you.
Don’t let the world confine you into its material mould, its material way of thinking, but let God give you His INFINITE FREEDOM; follow what He alone can give you – all that is good, acceptable to Him. PROVE YOUR PERFECTION!” (Romans 12:1,2)
What an ideal introduction to Section 1! When we prove our perfection the race is won! NOW! We are in full praise of God, who enjoys what we are. The feeling is mutual! WHEN WE GIVE, WE RECEIVE. This is indeed “the El Dorado of Christianity” (see cit. S7, 9:17), it is the fulfilment of Soul.
When someone plays a musical instrument, the skill of the musician is portrayed, and can bring out of the instrument what others may not achieve. Indeed when played “with the whole heart”, all are blessed. If I can share a memory from school, – in a music test, we were each asked to play two lines of music on our recorders, to be marked out of five. One pupil was given a six, for as the master said, he played from the heart, and not just technically, and the difference was quite noticeable. When we humbly drop all sense of self, and recognise music as God expressing Himself, it reflects what Jesus said: “I can of mine own self do nothing”, and the beauty of Soul is expressed. In my poem “Keep Your Violin In Tune”, read by Sue, both violin and violinist play to their full divine potential.
And it is so important to keep in tune, for when we may be tempted, we are quick to deny, when someone “picks us up” to seek help we are ready, and don’t need dusting off first! How often do we find that in prayerful listening we are led to run in a certain direction that proves just right to help in an emergency….
Oh keep your violin in tune
Each second of the day,
For when the Christ picks up the bow,
Divinely you will play.
If we can imagine ourselves as the violin, and see a famous violinist walking towards us, wouldn’t we shout out “Play me please!”. Listening in prayer we know when to call out, and the healing presence of the Christ is proved. “Keeping in tune” can be rendered “keeping tuned in”, and in this listening we hear the Word singing, – and we can rejoice, for the music is us! The poem finishes:
Inseparable from Soul, that’s us!
God’s music – wonderful!
[The inspiration of the poem is taken from an instruction by Mary Baker Eddy to one of her students, as noted in the Lady Victoria Murray reminiscence file, The Mary Baker Eddy Library]
WHENEVER THE WORD IS SPOKEN (OR PLAYED!), TRUTH IS MADE MANIFEST. As the Word and God were always one and the same, so too are God and man. We can only speak /sing / play with the Voice and authority of God.
The poem “Just Say in a Word” (read by my son James) bears out this conclusion. The “Word” represents the Truth, – has from the beginning, and there is no changing perfection. This is the authority with which Jesus spoke, and to which the centurion referred.
It dawns on me then: Yes! God’s word always true!
It’s the authority for all that we do!
The healings of Jesus all point us this way,
Knowing God is our Father, – that’s how to pray!
When we speak the truth, we have the full backing of infinite good. The centurion was used to being obeyed. The centurion did not need to know exactly what Jesus would say or think. He just knew he spoke with the authority of God, and that was all that was needed. Time and distance were immaterial. The Word represents the perfection of now. Each of us can speak with that same authority, for we can do nothing of ourselves, but express that infinite all-powerful Word that governs our lives. It has never stopped speaking; we have never stopped reflecting / responding. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We have had this authority since the very beginning. It is with us now.
This links in with cit.S28: “Exercise this God-given authority. … Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.” (cit. S28 393:10 (only), 12)
He only spoke the Word and that was enough:
When faced with the Truth, there’s nothing too tough.
Neither time nor distance can stop what is true:
The Word speaketh now, and perfection its view!
This view is referred to in the penultimate citation, cit. S30, 264:7
“Mortals must look beyond fading, finite forms, if they would gain the true sense of things. Where shall the gaze rest but in the unsearchable realm of Mind? We must look where we would walk, and we must act as possessing all power from Him in whom we have our being.”
GOD MADE US TO PRAISE HIM WITH OUR WHOLE BEING, – WE CAN DO NOTHING ELSE. We speak with the authority of the Word because that is the only authority there is and ever was. We witness the Word because that is our purpose.
THE RACE HAS ALREADY BEEN RUN AND WE ALL STAND JOYFULLY AS WINNERS!
Bible verses are taken from my combined translations, a free copy of which is available on an excel spreadsheet for those who may be interested. The spreadsheet also includes a genealogy from Adam to Jesus, with related notes. Shared with love. Write to Ken on kengcooper@btinternet.com.
Copies of these poems are available in pdf format in color and B&W as DOWNLOADS at the top right of the online version of this Poetic Postlude to this week’s Bible Lesson.
The full range of Ken’s videos on YouTube can be found on KenGCooperPoetry. All Ken’s poetry and other writings can be found on Ken Cooper Poetry. (Links work on Metaphysical page).
