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Rita Klundt Posts

One More Soul

I see statues topple across many states.

An effort, they say, to be rid of the hate.

Why then at night, with impetuous rage?

Must we burn up the book just to turn from a page?

With various shades of our sensitive skin,

Our hearts are distressed by the mess we are in.

But smashing down idols and raising up others

Won’t change what went on among our forefathers.

The blood being spilled on both sides of the street

Won’t quiet the wailing or turn down the heat.

It’s hard, with the noise, to sort victims from vandals.

It’s more than my simple, old mind wants to handle.

We all want to choose which history we read.

We’re influenced by people with hearts full of greed.

Who’s statue could stand after scrupulous study?

Whose motives are pure, and whose past is not muddy?

I ask myself, searching, where is my fault?

Did I do something wrong or not do what I ought?

My questions are many. Good answers are few.

Conversations are stirring, but nothing is new.

One answer I find is more a command,

Spoken and published by God’s mighty hand.

“No god before Me.” He meant what He said.

But rather than listen, we’d rather be dead.

He was not only speaking of statues man-made,

But those gods we keep hidden and take to our graves.

Please don’t think me “judgey” or taking a “side.”

I’m in this world with you and living this ride!

All the rebellion and turmoil we face,

“Lord, please have some mercy, and give us some grace.”

If I can take something of value away,

From these past few months, and their black, white and gray.

            This is it:

Don’t build a statue when I’m dead

Or carve an image of my head.

Just put my name on my flat grave.

Write, “One more soul who Jesus saved.”

Do not debate for bronze or brass,

And please don’t beg or borrow cash.

The price for me already paid.

I’m one more soul who Jesus saved.

Remember me? I hope you do,

For being good and kind to you.

Embellish not my Christian ways.

I’m just a soul who Jesus saved.

From God my blessings flowed to earth.

Aside from Him, what am I worth?

A “Thank you, friend,” is what I crave

From souls I’ve led, then Jesus saved.

Should words I’ve rhymed or stories penned

 Live well beyond my fragile skin,

No torch to light the paths I’ve paved,

 Except the one where Jesus saves.

 If in the time before I’m gone,

Great fortune, deed or battle won,

Give honor, worship —ALL the praise

to Jesus. He’s the one who saves.

Rita Klundt

1 Comment

Led by a Follower

By the time I had reached kindergarten I knew I was a leader. I had friends, and plenty of them. They all wanted to come to my house to play, and nearly always, they played by my rules. The goal was for everyone to have fun, and when playtime was over we’d all had fun, sometimes to the point of exhaustion. That made me a good leader. Right?

It never occurred to me that maybe it was my mom’s lunches or the fact that she never watered down her Kool-Aid that attracted so many of the neighborhood children to our yard. I hadn’t considered that because Mom let my friends inside to use the bathroom or that she always had a supply of Band-Aids, and other mothers trusted her, might be the reason for my popularity. I thought it was me, and my leadership style.

My extroverted personality landed me positions of leadership in the classroom as well. I was early to volunteer, eager to help, and almost always obeyed the rules. Adults could count on me to get things started and keep things going.

The first real frustration I recall as a leader didn’t happen until I was sixteen. One comment and gesture caused me to understand I was in the lead, but not much of a leader.

It was a boy, another sixteen year old, who knocked me off my own pedestal. This tall, handsome, and usually quiet boy stood in front of the group of teenagers and adult chaperones. He faced me, then bowed as he said, “Yes Queen.” He’d made me realize that my leadership style had room for improvement.

After the meeting, he apologized for mocking me. He repeated the words “I’m sorry” three times, each time adding another layer of sincerity. His attitude, as much as his smile, made me feel weak in my knees.

He eventually knocked me off my feet.

Would you, please, consider one or more of these questions. Then, let me know your thoughts.

  1. Do you consider yourself a leader? Why or why not?
  2. What sort of leader do you get excited about following?
  3. Would you consider following a leader who is younger or less experienced than you?
  4. Have you ever fallen or failed because you followed the wrong leader?

Any other brief thoughts on leadership?

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