Dear Hugh, I greet your questioning with honour and respect;
your need to know the answers is a questing I expect.
In church, we read the Bible and we say "the Word of God",
whilst knowing that the psalms were writ by David, staff and rod;
and all the proverbs came from Egypt, quoting wisdom there,
which isn't less the wise because of different oaths they swear.
The Bible came from many hands, we say they were inspired,
because we know the proof of truth, we think that God conspired.
The Word of God is Jesus, and it's also truth we speak,
the comfort of a hug when it is comfort that we seek.
The source of hurtful words is never God, and any book
that's used to hurt a child of God becomes the devil's hook.
Perhaps they did exaggerate the miracles a bit,
but when I need some guidance, I am sure the Bible's it.
Author notes
In reply to
The Word of God - a question. by hugh wyles
allpoetry.com/Poem/1124631
The Wyleian sonnets were conceived by hugh wyles and SusanL as sonnets of various forms and meters which examine the good life. I have three sonnets in this corpus, a great honour, and two of them are standard Shakespearean sonnets, the other is this one in iambic heptameter.
Written March 17th, 2005
In a list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 21 of 21
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Thank you Stefani. The Bible can be quite an explosive topic. Since Hugh asked, I took the opportunity to explain my opinion, which is not educated, but is faithful. Thanks for your support and applause.
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A wonderful expression of faith! I loved this. Words are often difficult to find when trying to explain our faith to others. It is so personal, yet so important. Something we wish to have understood, while not pushing. You have done and excellent job here. God bless and keep writing. And for the record, I too share this faith and find your account of reasons for belief in the scriptures to be blamelss.
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I warned you. I have no idea what "Wyleian" is and so I was lost. I'm assuming it's not poem written by the actor Noah Wylie.
But I do get the gist (I think)
To sum it up:
It's all about faith.
right?
Now I'm caught up, except for all the old stuff which I keep meaning to get to---
Edited on Mar 19, 5:48 p.m. because ''. -
Thank you Hugh, I am honoured to have this included in the Wyleian corpus. The top line on my author page is "An agony of doubt is excellent to have had." This has been an object of humour with some of my friends, but I stand by it, because it was doubt that led me to the faith I have now. While the state of doubt is uncomfortable, and unacceptable to some, it has long been recognized as the road to faith. I think doubt is good, far better than unquestioning bigotry, as you so rightly call it. They say that the devil quotes the bible, and I have seen malice, pride and vanity expressed with this pious fleece. We must be sure of what we believe, but only by living it in the open can we assure others. OK, I've said enough.
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Thanks Terry, yes, you are probably right, but I have seen it both ways. This is Hugh's series, and his to determine.
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About the title, specifically the number XXXXV
If 4 is IV and 9 is IX, and 50 is L, shouldn't 45 be XLV?
Nit-picker. aka Terry -
Thank you Saurabh, I agree with you completely, questioning faith is important, and in my experience it leads to more faith. Feeling and belief are led by thought, and if it doesn't make sense, then it won't work. There are always more questions in the faith journey, that is what makes it so interesting.
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Coming to this by a circuitous route, agnostic dad who lived a more honorable life than many churchgoers, I was christened in the Lutheran church (like a direct line to God) but I was only eleven. Then I married High Anglican and loved the liturgy and music...and my part in the choir and leading the junior choir...and have a fine collection of JS Bach, to Gregorian Chant, Palestrina to Wagner's Parsifal, and Mozart's spiritual works... plus through it all, an incredibly beautiful affinity with unspoiled Nature, God's ultimate cathedral under blue sky and tall pines, large clean river... and a number of sincerely spiritual people....
I realize it is a large mix to be blended but there were a lot of decades to let it blend. Call it growth.
And then I read a sonnet such as this, and find a gem. All I would have said, but more, in flawless meter and inverted form, putting the purpose up top. No question what it's for, no doubt at the end, it was achieved.
Bravo!
Terry
PS, I tried to correct typos, but the site went down. Briefly.
Fumblefingers properly chastised! T.
Edited on Mar 18, 9:28 because 'typos'. -
Thank you Mia.
The golden rule applies to everyone, whether they believe as I do or not. I welcome opportunities to express my viewpoint, but others' religion is God's business, and it is good hands.
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Margaret, this was Fantastic my friend! A so meaningful pen and written in perfect meter and form, BRAVO...I think I shall look up Hugh Wyles question, this was awesome, I want to see where the inspiration came from Let the ink flow!
and blessings, Sandi
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Dear Margaret,
This is a very worthy addition to our Wyleian series and I thank you for accepting my invitation. Susan has shown me how to add other than hers or mine to the list so there should be no problem.
It is a wonderful affirmation of your faith, especially lines #9 and #14 and I am comforted by your down-to-earth and faithful, rather than blind acceptance of biblical content.
I also am very impressed by Mary's comment and am grateful to her for restoring it in full.
Dear Mari touches on a point which I have, in my years of association with the Anglican Church for one, found a regrettable trait in some who profess to have complete faith in the Word of God yet practice an intolerance (I think hate may be a little too strong) towards any who have questions or doubts. To me this seems a confusion between faith and bigotry.
Thankyou again for sharing your open-minded beliefs under the Wyleian series. Applause.
Love and hugs, XXX Hugh.
Edited on Mar 17, 9:48 p.m. because 'spacing of lines.'. -
Dear Margaret,
This is an honest and truthful write. I really like the fact that without needing to make any generalization, you have shared how the Bible has worked for you. That, for me, is all that matters.
I did not find Hugh's poem offensive either, but rather genuinely inquisitive. Faith, if just blindly built upon preached beliefs, will not have a strong foundation; it must be practiced, tested, understood and realized at a personal level. Therefore, questions would be a part of the process. What is important is to keep moving forward, realizing that questions are stepping stones to understanding.
Of course there is hardly left much for me to say about the beautiful way you have crafted the poem into the trademark sonnet form of Hugh and Susan.
Thank you for sharing the wisdom,
Saurabh. -
Margaret you have once again put forth your words so well. Great stuff. Although I am not a christian I do believe reguardless of colour and creed we all need something to believe in and your words spoke that so well. It isnt the faith it is how you approach your life and the way you treat people. In all plain comonsense. Loved it Love Mia
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What a marvellous testament to your own faith, Margaret,
Lines 9 and 10 really make this poem a gem of gems, in my opinion and I cannot agree more. I am certain beyond a doubt, that Hugh and SusanL are thrilled to add this to their Wyleian series...wonderful response to Hugh's poem.
s and 
s by the bucketfull,
Del -
Awwwwwwwwe, now I just have to go look up Hugh Wyle's question Great job Margaret. Wonderfully said....and in a sonnet? How hard is THAT to do Fantastic!
~Lyrical
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This is excellent Margaret! Your reply is wonderful, and even when I still have some doubts, (not about my faith though) I enjoy reading different aspects and thoughts about that same question.
One thing I'm sure of, God's words are not about any form of hate. Yet, we see so many who claim to follow the Bible hating so many others
A wonderful sonnet you have here!
Kisses,
Mari
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Thank you Susan. I also agree with Mary's non-literal interpretation which she posted on Hugh's poem. There are a lot of stories in the Bible, but the important part is non-literal, which is the unending love that God has for his creation, and the value of our participation in that love.
Hugh doesn't know how to add other people's work to his chapbook, can you help him? Nadir has written XXXXIV. -
that is an excellent reply and I am glad to see you use the Wyleian name again..
We need to find a solid way to keep track since we are numbering...
I think Hugh has a chap book on his page maybe we will have him make sure it stays up to date.
I think you and I have a similar belief about the Bible. You have explained it well.
Susan -
I have replaced my original comment on hugh's poem. Long winded as it is. He got me to thinking and rambling.
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Thank you Mary! Your comment on Hugh's poem makes me curious, and I hope to see your full expression sometime.
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You have put it beautifully, with your wonderful and wise insights. Though I may not take the scriptures quite as literally as some I do believe that the truths within the stories and history were God inspired. I especially love your 9th line. This, to me, is Christianity. Gracefully written, showing tolerance.
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