What meaning is meaning what? (poem)

Note: This is a piece I have pulled out of the archives. I thought it might be fun to post this during this week as a way to celebrate both National Poetry Month (which is in April) and Holy Week. I will plan to do poetry readings videos for the rest of week, if anyone's interested (These are specifically available for my family and friends on Facebook.) (I'll still do them to amuse myself even if no one's interested- lol. :-)) 
The text of the poem and a little introduction is below. Enjoy! Happy Easter!
In honour of Holy Week and The Lord Jesus, I also wanted to read poems reflecting on the sacrifice Jesus made for all of us when He died and rose to pay for all sins for all time. We can have forgiveness of sins and salvation from the hell we deserve and entry into the Heaven we don't deserve all through our faith in the love God has for us and the salvation He has provided through Christ! (Romans 10:9-13)
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This poem employs the language of language itself to make a spiritual point. English major nerds should appreciate this. ;-) (Of which I would totally consider myself part of that number. I minored in English myself.) It's largely inspired by one of my favourite Bible books- Ecclesiastes- and the wisdom found there about The Lord Jesus who truly brings meaning to our life, both here and eternally.


What meaning is meaning what?

(original poem copyright Nathan Ludwick 2/27/2010) 

(Proverbs 25:11, John 10:10, Ecclesiastes 1:1, Ecclesiastes 2:10-11)

Every sentence has a verb for proper meaning.
It seems every sentience has a verb in the meaning of meaning.
Are the well to do the ones who have done well?
Well, to do is what we all seem to strive for.
We're not content to simply just be because
It's not enough of an action word.
The amazing paradox of the vernal equinox
Is having all the time in the world yet nothing to do.
We can mask the panic in our eyes with layers
Of activities and tasks for responsible adult lives.
But when we give ourselves a moment to breathe and not think
We realize we don't know how to do nothing and not sleep.
Boredom and laziness may be bosom buddies
But the problem Is in our bosom beneath that cushion.
We have plans, goals and dreams mapped out for life
But the list of things to do before kicking the bucket
When all accomplished is still just a drop in the bucket
And it's never enough to wash our car, much less our heart.
Love of self is the bacteria that lines the inside
And man's search for meaning makes but a poor bandage
Our verbs still serve only to propel our own renown
We need a modifier to change our life sentence
And the aptly spoken Word sets us back on the street
With a joyous adverb as we narrowly tread from dross to gold.

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Love Comes Knocking (poem)

I wanted to get one more poem in under the wire for National Poetry Month in April and so here is this entry. The last minute nature of it seems appropriate since it talks about how love can seem the same way at times. It never seems to come at an opportune time but the opportunities for love are there all the time, if we take time to follow the Spirit's lead and engage them. This poem is inspired by a real life encounter with one such opportunity.

"Love Comes Knocking"
(poem copyright by Nathan Ludwick 3/23/2018)
(2 Corinthians 4:7, Revelation 3:20, Philippians 2, 1 Corinthians 13, Song of Songs 8:6-7, Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25, Luke 15, John 13:34-35, Hebrews 13:2, 1 John 3:16-18)

Love comes knocking
Throughout each day
And at all hours of the night
Never pushing and demanding
Just wishing and hoping with a hand out
It's never on time but it's never too late
It takes you by surprise with its weight
You're hit with it at your lowest time
Right when you feel you can't take any more
It's always inconvenient for those who don't have time to take time
But it's a giver not a taker
And it gives you more than you could ever give
Nothing you lose compares to what you gain
Its every appointment is divinely ordained
It's the only thing you get more of when you give it all away
Love crosses the street to reach out and pull up
Love pours itself all out- not just half way
Love is the greatest and it always abides
Love is what makes life truly life
It pulls its wool over our hides
It clothes us with its brand so others can believe their eyes
Love knows no stranger- only long lost friends
Love invites all to come on in
Love declares all of infinite value
Love gives in sacrifice to show by action that it is real and alive
Love never gives out and never gives up
And Love is as strong as death
And rises to forgive in extravagance
Love is the answer and the antidote to all the world's evils
Love flows deep and wide like a river at the base of a tree
Love changes your whole world and it's what the world needs now
Love is true and right and the only Good in this world
And when you open your heart
Love comes in quietly, softly and tenderly
Love never fails- He is forever!
Let Love give and give Love- for free
Love won't force the locked in
- Love comes knocking

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All Out For Love (song)

Everybody loves love. The entire world's population all has that desire to love and be loved- to have someone to hold and talk to and care for and to know that this person does the same for them. It's been said that we need love like the air we breathe. But what happens when that air supply runs out? It seems for many people, they fall into love easily enough but then they later fall out of love as well. It's certainly true that feelings come and go- and that's exactly why a marriage can't be based on feelings and physical attraction. It has to be deeper than that! A marriage covenant is a vow taken before God and man that unites one man to one woman in holy matrimony until death do them part! The rise of the "no fault" divorce laws led our society away from God's standard and gave people an easy out to to avoid putting the blame on any one individual. There is no such thing as a no fault divorce- either you truly commit to giving the rest of your life to another person or you don't. God hates divorce and only allowed for it as a concession for man's hard hearts. (And Jesus further clarifies that it's only allowable in the case of marital unfaithfulness. See Matthew 19) And commitments are not often easy to keep- they take a TON of hard work and effort, but the end results are always worth it. And for those in Christ, we don't undertake this effort alone; we can only truly have a successful marriage of Godly love for each other when we are in Christ. When we have experienced the love He showed through His death and Resurrection that pays for our sins, we can then share that love with others. (1 John 4:19) And when we love, we must show that it's real by our actions! Just as the Good Samaritan literally went out of his way to cross over and help the hurt Israelite, we must go totally out of our way- give of our money freely- give of ourselves- do whatever it takes- to share the love of God with others. The example Jesus gave in His parable in Luke 10 shows us a picture of real self-sacrificing love. That's exactly the kind of love God shows us- and the love He expects us to show others. We don't fall out of love- we must go all out for love!

"All Out For Love"
(parody of "All Out of Love" by Air Supply; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 2/18/2018)
(Ruth 1:16-17, Song of Songs [or Song of Solomon] 8:6-7, Jeremiah 31:3, 1 John 3:16-18, John 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 13, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:8-12 and 4:19, John 13:34-35 and 15:13, Matthew 5:27-32, Philippians 2, Matthew 19, Malachi 2:13-16)

We're tying the knot 'til we're dead and we're gone
I'm linked in with you better or worse
I know I loved you but what's up now with you?
Lamenting we've drifted apart
You wish I would stare at you like that first March
Some time in our life we let go
I could beg you, "Don't leave"- what a sorrow it'd be
But baby- is it really so? Love has ceased to flow

We're all out of love- our vows have come untrue
You know that sometimes the feelings say, "So long!"
We fall out of love- it's not me, it's not you
We'll call it "no fault"- just say that our love's gone wrong

I want things to come back as they were before
The way Jesus long ago designed
Well, read Genesis 2- Do you see 24?
Go Matthew 19- quoted by Christ

And what does it say? A man and woman unite
They're wed- the two become one
Let no people break- pull apart what God's made
Let's love please with all we've got- all through God

We're all out of love- And 1 John 4:8's true
I know You define the meaning of real love
You showed how to love- Crucified; empty tomb
No love is so great as laying life down for buds

So what do you think of this?
What 10 Luke teaches us
Priest and Levite pass by
Samaritan goes to assist

Went all out for love- To go cross street to dude
You know priest, Levite- they leave him- say "So long!"
They talk about love- what is it without proof?
You must demonstrate to show it's not a gong!

It's all about love! 1 Corinthians 13
It's patient and kind- believing in all things
No self-proud with love- No envy- it's not rude
Endures everything- rejoices with Truth not wrong

(You) don't fall out of love- It hopes in all things, dude
Its own way denies- Unending- No "So long"s
(So) go all out for love! We're nothing without it, crew
Of faith, hope and love- the greatest is love- God's Love!

[Background vocals:
In 8 Song of Songs- Love's as strong as death, dude
The knots- it keeps tied....]
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