A table that is round.

It will take some sawing

to be roundtabled,

some redefining 

and redesigning.

Such redoing and rebirthing

of narrowing Churching

can painful be

for people and tables

But so was the cross,

a painful too table

of giving and yes

And from such death comes life,

from such dying comes rising,

in search of roundtabling 

And what would roundtable Churching mean?

It would mean no diasing 

and throning,

for but one King is there,

and He was a footwasher,

at table no less...

for at the narrowlong tables, 

servant and mirror 

became picture framed

and centers of attention

And crosses became but gilded ornaments 

on bare stone walls

in buildings used but once a week only

But the times and the tables 

are changing and rearranging

And what on narrowlong tableministers,

when they confront 

a roundtable people,

after years of working up the table

(as in 'up the ladder')

to finally sit at its head,

only to discover 

that the table has turned around???

Continued rarified air

will only isolate

for there are no people there,

They must be loved into roundness,

where apart is spelled a part

and the call is to the gathering

For God has called a People,

not 'them and us'

'Them and us'

are unable

to gather around,

for a roundtable,

there are no sides

And all are invited

to wholeness and to food...

Roundtable means

no preferred seating,

no first and last,

no better, and no corners

for 'the least of these'

Roundtable means

being with,

a part of,

together, and one

it means

room for the spirit

and gifts

and disturbing profound peace for all..

And it is we in the present

who are mixing and kneading

the dough for the future.

We can no longer prepare for the past....

from: A spirituality Named Compassion