In Praise of Pot-stirrers

A Poem in Praise of Pot-Stirrers

(To honor the UTO-4 and all those who brought their story to light)

I sing in praise of pot-stirrers

     those who cry out

     in the wilderness of

Nice and

Polite White,

'Pay attention!'
'Pay attention!'

     And,

          'If you're not outraged,

          You are not

          Paying attention."
 

I thank God for pot-stirrers
     who are

     Unashamedly and

     Appropriately

     The Anxious Presence

We need

     when the trumpet

     needs to be blown

     in Zion.

And,
     the alarm sounded

     on God's Holy Hill
 
They pray the arrogant
     and the stiff-necked 

Might

          tremble,

          tremble,

          tremble,

Before God.
 

I bless God for pot-stirrers,

   those who are

   Thorns in the Flesh

   of the Institutional Church,
 
For those who once
    'Cast their nets

    In Galilee'

And

    'Homeless in Patmos died

    Or head down was crucified'
 

We praise you and we bless you, God,

    For those pot-stirrers
    who teach us that

         'The peace of God

               it is no peace

               but strife clothed in the sod'.
 

Send us, we beseech thee,

More pot-stirrers

     And those who trouble
          the waters

          of our baptism
 

So we may know

       Your Peace

When we do

          Your Justice,
     Love

                    Your Mercy,

And

     Walk humbly
     (Attentively)

          With You. 

With acknowledgement of some of the words from Hymn 661 in The Episcopal Hymnal.

Words: William Alexander Percy

And, Micah 6:8.