! God Is In The Banana Skin... Poem by Michael Shepherd

God, say those who learn of Him,
Is eager to be our teacher…

who would love to sit quietly beside us,
like the mother which He also is,
singing the meaning of the simplest words,
the words that we’ll most need..

but if we’re the scourge of the classroom…
He’ll not hesitate to use full physical correction – though
He will start small, in hope we take the hint..

but if we still resist, He's not beyond
thrashing us within an inch of our sad life,
until we're on our knees and begging to be taught...

and if our pride still needs to take a fall,
to restore our humane self –

then God is in
the banana skin..

He’s ruthless in His love…
there is no depth to which He’ll rise
to lower heaven to earthly eyes…

and since He is all women too,
the arts of flirtation are fully in His power…
He’ll not answer letters; not turn up on time;
not be taken your advantage of…
change His appearance; or be seen
accompanying some other to the scene…
then send, out of the blue, a Valentine
that knocks you off your feet of clay..
proposes setting a marriage day…

Yes, God is in the banana skin;
God the teacher is ruthless in his love;
God, they say, made time, so that
we could exercise freewill
in taking our time
to find that our need
is really much the same as His…