The Soldier & Amazing Grace
I took an unexpected trip to Paradise last night75 total reviews
Comment from ravenblack
I am really torn about this poem. Well- constructed, but I have a really hard time seeing Hitler granted grace. He is farthest from a believer and his brand of hatred killed millions of innocents who many still believe are condemned because they don't accept Christ as savior. My wife lost many relatives to Hitler. And my grandfather- the best man I ever knew- read the Talmud every day, for all intents and purposes, converting to Judaism. When my grandfather died, a fundamentalist friend told me he felt terrible for me, that he would pray for me because my grandfather was going to hell. Shocked, I asked, " you mean to tell me that if Hitler had a deathbed conversion, that he'd have a better chance at paradise than my grandfather?" He said yes.
reply by the author on 29-Apr-2014
  |
I am really torn about this poem. Well- constructed, but I have a really hard time seeing Hitler granted grace. He is farthest from a believer and his brand of hatred killed millions of innocents who many still believe are condemned because they don't accept Christ as savior. My wife lost many relatives to Hitler. And my grandfather- the best man I ever knew- read the Talmud every day, for all intents and purposes, converting to Judaism. When my grandfather died, a fundamentalist friend told me he felt terrible for me, that he would pray for me because my grandfather was going to hell. Shocked, I asked, " you mean to tell me that if Hitler had a deathbed conversion, that he'd have a better chance at paradise than my grandfather?" He said yes.
Comment Written 27-Apr-2014
reply by the author on 29-Apr-2014
-
Well ravenblack, I'd have a hard time with that too, for a number of reasons. The "soldier" in the poem was not Hitler, however. Just an SS officer (it's in my author's notes). But, nonetheless, Jesus Christ is not you, nor I, and when he said to ask, and it shall be given unto you, he didn't make specifications. That goes for Hitler, Himmler, Stalin...and any other of histories monsters we care to cite. It would be quite hypocritical of Him to tell us to forgive others, and love our enemies, if He Himself was unwilling to do so, don't you think?
Anyhow, thanks for reading the poem and sharing your thoughts with me about it. You know I always value your opinion.
Comment from Domino 2
Extremely well researched and fascinating notes, Dean. So, Adolph was a good guy really. ;-)
So, the vile no-gooders don't burn in hell, as some religious extremists would have us believe, but they are forgiven by Jesus after all, and LEARN as a result.
Fascinating read, though a bit jumpy with general lack of meter.
Still, I REALLY enjoyed it, Dean.
Best wishes, Ted
|
Extremely well researched and fascinating notes, Dean. So, Adolph was a good guy really. ;-)
So, the vile no-gooders don't burn in hell, as some religious extremists would have us believe, but they are forgiven by Jesus after all, and LEARN as a result.
Fascinating read, though a bit jumpy with general lack of meter.
Still, I REALLY enjoyed it, Dean.
Best wishes, Ted
Comment Written 27-Apr-2014
Comment from BeasPeas
Hi Dean,
Your poem is wonderful. It goes without saying, but I'm saying it anyway--you are an excellent writer/poet. It's interesting how we evolve as we continue to create. Seems as if you are branching out a bit in your creativity. This piece is a "knockout." There is a line in the play "Fiddler on the Roof" in which the main character says something like, "God--if Jews are your chosen people, could you please choose somebody else once in a while?"
 |
Hi Dean,
Your poem is wonderful. It goes without saying, but I'm saying it anyway--you are an excellent writer/poet. It's interesting how we evolve as we continue to create. Seems as if you are branching out a bit in your creativity. This piece is a "knockout." There is a line in the play "Fiddler on the Roof" in which the main character says something like, "God--if Jews are your chosen people, could you please choose somebody else once in a while?"
Comment Written 27-Apr-2014
Comment from emrpoems
As a Christian I would be punished if I did not give you a six for this. Wouldn't want to lose my place in heaven for cheating.LOL
I can see you did research and the notes helped me appreciate the poem
Excellent rhyming couplets
|
As a Christian I would be punished if I did not give you a six for this. Wouldn't want to lose my place in heaven for cheating.LOL
I can see you did research and the notes helped me appreciate the poem
Excellent rhyming couplets
Comment Written 27-Apr-2014
Comment from CALLAHANMR
This is profound. We love those whom we love, but what about the others? There is no one who is beyond God's forgiveness. I remember reading about Corrie Ten Boom, and how much she suffered under the Nazis. She did not want to go to Germany, but she felt that God was leading her there. After she spoke a man came forward whom she recognized as a guard in a camp where she had been. The man had accepted Christ and been forgiven by God, but now he asked her forgiveness as well. She could feel nothing but horror toward him, yet she knew she had been forgiven by God and she had to forgive as well, but it was not possible, So she prayed to be able to hold out her hand, just hold out her hand. When she did, and the man took it, she found herself flooded by the love and forgiveness of God. So when she could not humanly forgive, God gave her the grace to do so. Best wishes, Marilyn
|
This is profound. We love those whom we love, but what about the others? There is no one who is beyond God's forgiveness. I remember reading about Corrie Ten Boom, and how much she suffered under the Nazis. She did not want to go to Germany, but she felt that God was leading her there. After she spoke a man came forward whom she recognized as a guard in a camp where she had been. The man had accepted Christ and been forgiven by God, but now he asked her forgiveness as well. She could feel nothing but horror toward him, yet she knew she had been forgiven by God and she had to forgive as well, but it was not possible, So she prayed to be able to hold out her hand, just hold out her hand. When she did, and the man took it, she found herself flooded by the love and forgiveness of God. So when she could not humanly forgive, God gave her the grace to do so. Best wishes, Marilyn
Comment Written 27-Apr-2014
Comment from Righteous Riter
Good use of the aabb rhyme scheme. Good end rhyming. Good perfect rhyming with so/go. Good internal rhyming. Good description and alliteration. Good rhythm and flow. Good complimentary photo followed by a clear message and helpful authors notes.
|
Good use of the aabb rhyme scheme. Good end rhyming. Good perfect rhyming with so/go. Good internal rhyming. Good description and alliteration. Good rhythm and flow. Good complimentary photo followed by a clear message and helpful authors notes.
Comment Written 27-Apr-2014
Comment from zanya
A tale of forgiveness and love in a contentious context - the limitations of our human judgement is unable always to see the bigger picture-
|
A tale of forgiveness and love in a contentious context - the limitations of our human judgement is unable always to see the bigger picture-
Comment Written 27-Apr-2014
Comment from Dorothy Farrell
This is very well written piece of writing, as usual, and what I have come to expect from you. A wonderful idea you had for this story. You have reinforced what we should already know. That we have an all forgiving God. Your author notes are interesting. Yes the Jews have always had a rough passage. Long before Hitler, although his actions were unutterably obscene, the Jews have been mistreated. They were banished from England in 1290. Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice gives an example of the treatment of Jews. I often wonder how he felt about them when he wrote this because when I read it I always feel sorry for Shylock. But I digress... Your poem is wonderful. Regards Dorothy
|
This is very well written piece of writing, as usual, and what I have come to expect from you. A wonderful idea you had for this story. You have reinforced what we should already know. That we have an all forgiving God. Your author notes are interesting. Yes the Jews have always had a rough passage. Long before Hitler, although his actions were unutterably obscene, the Jews have been mistreated. They were banished from England in 1290. Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice gives an example of the treatment of Jews. I often wonder how he felt about them when he wrote this because when I read it I always feel sorry for Shylock. But I digress... Your poem is wonderful. Regards Dorothy
Comment Written 27-Apr-2014
Comment from Willowsong
This is a very thought provoking piece....has great rhythm and rhyme to it...carries a deep spiritual message...some lovely added images to compliment.
|
This is a very thought provoking piece....has great rhythm and rhyme to it...carries a deep spiritual message...some lovely added images to compliment.
Comment Written 27-Apr-2014
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
Very interesting. I suppose many of the Nazi soldiers were only following orders and believing what they'd been taught to believe all their lives, that the Jews killed Jesus. I can see where that could lead to hatred, but not of the Jews of their day... they were innocent. Just as American whites never held slaves, yet are still blamed for slavery.
|
Very interesting. I suppose many of the Nazi soldiers were only following orders and believing what they'd been taught to believe all their lives, that the Jews killed Jesus. I can see where that could lead to hatred, but not of the Jews of their day... they were innocent. Just as American whites never held slaves, yet are still blamed for slavery.
Comment Written 27-Apr-2014
