Why Fear Pleasure?

Rev. Jeffrey Symynkywicz, March 26, 2000

Why are we afraid of pleasure
as though the God we know
was that mean, severe
punisher of our souls
we gave up long ago?

Why are we afraid of joy
as though the God we know
were that tight and dry spirit
giving only to his favorites
and withholding grace from the rest of us.

God is all abundance, all joy
gifts of grace unimaginable waiting
including pleasure and laughter
in the living of our days.

God is not a puny soul
living drunkenly for himself alone;
God's grace is our model
as is God's freedom and abundance.

We seek a life of truth
and of connection:
neither squandering our days like fools
nor slavishly hoarding them like martyrs

But spending them wisely and mirthfully
with deeds that serve the cause of justice
and words that cause the hearts around us
to leap with pleasure
and smile back at us
in a warm embrace of love.

jbs
3/25/99

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