A Peaceable Kin-dom
The following poem was performed at La Sierra University Church’s Friday night worship service, First Service.
In Santa Monica where the sea slaps the sand
I met an old war vet with a sign in his hand
And it said
Power to the Peaceful
Power to the Peaceful
He said he served his country in the Vietnam War
He said he can’t support this country and its killing no more
And he said
Power to the Peaceful
Power to the Peaceful
I shook my head and said that most the people I know – will likely
Never put their boots on pick their guns up and go
He said
The wars that people fight are worlds away from Vietnam
And they don’t require guns or tanks; they don’t require bombs, Man
I can’t escape the things he said; my mind won’t let me off it
And so I bring the message of a homeless war vet prophet
Power to the Peaceful
Power to the Peaceful
There’s power to be gotten from the oil in the ground
There’s power for the taking when the sun is beating down
There’s power in technology and power in education
There’s power in the blood and there’s the power of information
There’s military power and the power of police
But there’s nothing like the power of a people waging peace
There’s nothing like the power of a people waging peace
PART ONE: WAGING WAR
People say that wars are wrong but know how to excuse them – They
Build weapons first and then find opportunities to use them
Build weapons first and then find opportunities to use them
Sticks and stones and tanks and drones may break my bones and flatten homes
But who needs those to fight their foes
Just find some people to oppose, some people to oppose
I met a man whose battle plan is drawing lines across the sand
On this side are the righteous ones, on that side are the damned
This side all the righteous ones and that side all the damned
He uses sides as weapons and he knows just how to choose them – He builds
Weapons first and then finds opportunities to use them
Builds weapons first and then seeks opportunities to use them
This side is for Americans that side for immigrants
That side is for donkeys this side for elephants
That side is for Sunday keepers, This the Sabbath day
On this side are the heteros, on that side are the gays
This side for creationists, and that side evolution
On that side all the heathen schools, and here true institutions
On that side if your name’s Hussein, on this side if it’s Smith
This side the Bible’s literal, and that side it’s a myth
Blessed are the peacemakers but he fights for the Lord – He says that
Jesus didn’t come for peace he came to bring a sword
On this side are the righteous ones on that side are the damned
This side all the righteous ones and that side all the damned
He said the sides are obvious the lines cannot be blurred
Then he unleashed his weaponry, an arsenal of words
Inside, outside – fighting words
Unrighteous – fighting words
Saved ones, lost ones – fighting words
Not like us – fighting words
Demonizing, ostracizing, confident assured
That he is on the winning side — the cosmic war of words
(And Blessed)
Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called
(And blessed)
Blessed are the peacemakers the children of God
(And Blessed)
Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called
(And blessed)
Blessed are the peacemakers the children of God
The Children of God
PART TWO: A PEACEABLE KIN-DOM
On the South Side of Los Angeles beside a fruit stand
I met a weather-beaten woman with a Bible in her hand
She said
If you believe “Thy kindom come on earth” can be true
You’ve gotta do unto the other what you’d have her do to you
She said
A warring world can change, and here’s a word to the wise
She said
The end to all the fighting must begin with our eyes
The end to all the fighting must begin with our eyes
Eyes that see “illegal alien,” a “faggot” or a “ho,”
Are the instruments of war, and eyes like those have got to go
Eyes that see unrighteous enemies are warring eyes as well
We’d be better off removing them and throwing them to – the bottom of the ocean with a millstone tied around them
If our arsenal is labels, we’ll find use for them somehow
If you want to end the warfare beat your sword into a plow
If you want to end the warfare beat your sword into a plow.
I confess my eyes are clouded I’ve been staring for too long
At what I thought were all my enemies — I see that I was wrong
A homeless
War vet and an old and wrinkled woman made me see
That the man who drew lines in the sand was no one else than me
And so
I shouted to the teacher as the crowd was passing by
Heir of David please have mercy, I want to have new eyes
Heir of David please have mercy, I want to have new eyes
When I looked again I saw the same ones, just as they had been
But where
I had perceived my enemies I recognized my kin
Where I had perceived my enemies I recognized my kin!
They remain as they have been; the change took place in me –
I once was lost….
Was blind but now I see
(And blessed)
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called
The children of the kin-dom, the kin-dom of God
(And blessed)
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called
A peaceable kin-dom, the kin-dom of God
Jared Wright is a Master of Divinity student at La Sierra University.
