A Contemplative Challenge

 

By Gilbert G. Brandt (02-11-11, revised 07-12-16)

God Bless America!

Three words so easily spoken;

So quickly mentioned when

Troubles haunt 'round every side.

God Bless America!

    We unthinkingly demand

When troubles lurk at every turn,

Behind each post and pillar strong.

 

Surely God will Bless—

    We deserve it, right?

    We are the people of America,

    We call on God to bless

    Whenever it's convenient for us

    And when we see a need.

Why surely God just sits and waits

To do our bidding when we claim

That God will bless America.

Somehow, we think,

That God is our emergency cord

To be pulled when our 'cute

Does not open automatically.

 

God Bless America!

    Three words, that

    From our perspective

    Bring God's riches on us here.

 

But, what does God see

From His perspective in the Heavens?

His view may differ drastically.

What if these words are mixed a bit

And God's perspective shows a different view?

 

What if

God Bless America

Were to become

America Bless God

Or

Bless God, America

Or even the command,

America, Bless God?

 

On whom then

Does responsibility rest?

What does this then mean for us?

We—who expect God's blessings

    To be bestowed at will, our will.

We—who want no mention of God

    In any public writings anywhere.

We—who want no part of God

    When everything sails so smoothly each and every day.

We—who cry for help;

    No, demand God's help when troubles lurk.

 

Can we not see that the changes

In these words—

These words seen so differently through God's eyes—

Demand some changes in us too?

 

One statement asks of God;

Three statements ask of Us.

We see the one—

It's obvious to us all.

The challenge now for each of us

Must be to see the other three.

To see, and act,

As God would have us do.