A Palm Sunday Poem Of The Privileged Self

Emotions are dry
Looking for a high
But spiritually deny
The plank in my eye.

Treating Church like a BDubs
And Jesus like a bartender
Lookin for the next fix
Itching for the next bender.

I need a spiritual pep rally
Gotta keep a good tally
on my quiet times
serving bread lines
communing with the Divine
when I have the time.

I saw You riding on Your donkey
Talking liberation and peace.
I certainly hope it’s practical
With a personal application for me.

Wait.

What did you say? Our relationship is more an acquaintance?

What’s that suppose to mean?
I have to embrace repentance?
That’s what it means to believe?

You’re calling me to repent?
Not just believe?
You’re calling me to submit?
Even when it’s inconvenient for me?

Wait.

What about love? I thought love was free?

Love has demands?
Responsibilities?

Look Lord, my emotions are dry.
I’m just looking for a high.
I’m sorry to make you cry.

But I don’t wanna repent.
I just wanna believe.
I don’t wanna relent.
I just wanna god for me.

~ Written Palm Sunday, 2021

About Fred

Fred came to serve greater Williamsburg and WCC as lead pastor in October of 2010 and is grateful to be a part of the family. He is a husband, father, certified trauma professional, S.T.A.R. (strategies for trauma awareness & resilience) practitioner, community organizer, TEDx alum, founder of 3e Restoration, Inc. and co-owner of Philoxenia Culture LLC. He received his B.S. in Ministry/Bible at Amridge University and his Master’s of Religious Education in Missional Leadership from Rochester University. Currently he is a candidate for a Doctorate of Ministry in Contextual Theology in at Northern Seminary in Chicago. Fred has also served as an adjunct professor for Rochester University and Regent University where taught courses in philosophy, ethics, leadership, pastoral care, intro to Christianity, and ethnography. He has also served as a guest lecturer on the subjects of racialized cultural systems, poverty, and missiology at various universities, such as William & Mary and Oklahoma Christian University. Fred has authored on book (Racialized Cultural Systems, Social Displacement and Christian Hospitality) and several curriculum offerings, including The FloorPlan: Living Toward Restoration & Resilience. Fred enjoys hanging out with his family anytime, anywhere. He is deeply grateful for how God graciously works through the Church in all her various forms, despite our brokenness. He is passionate about seeing the last, least, and lonely of every neighborhood, city and nation experience God’s in-breaking kingdom, and come to know Jesus as King. Oh, and his favorite season is Advent and Christmas. Fred is a founding member of the board of directors for Virginia Racial Healing Institute, a member of the leadership team for Williamsburg's local chapter of Coming to the Table, and a member of Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network's Racial Trauma Committee and Training Committee.
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