An old barn find. A modern day parable?

[Alan Heeley]

An old barn find
A modern day parable?

I’m I an old barn find
Abandoned at the back of the shed?
Covered in dirt and dust where once gleaming polish used to be

Buried by rubbish
Stale petrol in my tank
Seized pistons in my engine
Rusted joints all around
Steering won’t work
Tyres flat
Brakes solid cos the wheels
no longer round
Everything refused to turn,
How did I finish up here?
Well it happened like this

Back in the day, when…
I was polished
Chrome gleaming
tuned to perfection
I was front of the pack

Then a call went out
Someone was needed to go…
It would be a journey only the most committed would be called to take on
This could be called a lifelong ‘cannonball run’

My first reaction was
My tyres my paintwork,
The miles put on my engine
If I go,
I’ve only just had a service
He I am, send him!

Then I was not quite so shiny
The lustre of my chrome work gone,
Generally a little tarnished
Started missing
Not only my engine but Sundays as well…

Missed the run out on Sundays,
the little niggles
put me at the back of the shed
With a promise
“To get sorted when the right time came”.

It never happened
I just got dusty, couldn’t run!
Not being regularly serviced
Only remembering what could have been,
if only…
If only I had gone on that cannon ball run

After years and years of neglect Someone came to the barn
Saw me
Saw my potential
pulled me out from the shadows,
He didn’t see the faded paintwork
The seized engine
brakes solid, floor rotten
The old fuel leaking
Sat in puddles of oil
Power gone

He saw potential, a wonderful barn find
Hooked me up
Brought me to a place,
Where renewal was priority
No stone left unturned

I was back to my former glory
In fact better than before
All was milk and honey
On the grand Concorde
Reflecting the glory of my Maker many years ago…

Is this a modern parable?
Does it ring true?

Are we going to be wasting time wandering in the desert

Or

Respond to His call?

 

[bobinfaith]

Good morning, Alan;

An old barn find A modern day parable? is a long poem and that's good.

I can't help but feel this reminds me of who God made of me when I was young at 18. I thought I was perfect, strong, agile, happy and single. A lot of things went my way and my problems were few. I had a job, a car that ran, a few bucks in my pocket and a large family for support. When I went to Church on Sundays I felt I must be good with God. Everything was in place.

Little did I know, so much was lacking in my life and heart regarding people. I didn't think too much about other people's suffering, only my own since my problems were few. I learned faith at a very young age but didn't know how to apply it in the right places.

But as God began to reveal His purpose for me He also matured me as more people crossed my path. Why was that?
I ran into circumstances that required the initiative to deal with and manage. Though my Dad, Mom or family were still in my life they couldn't solve my issues for me.

As my life and marriage took us in a new age and direction, I began to feel the growing challenges included relating what other people were going through in life, health, finances including their faith and dwelling place.

Slowly, this was the beginning of knowing God's Sanctuary, or the "barn" where I can seek God, His Love and refuge.

Today I've learned more and more about the way I see people of all ages, engaging and relating to their lives. Areas of my life may now be considered vintage. But within that vintage, how can I offer new areas of quality love and service to others?

God bless you, Alan. These are my thoughts from reading your poem.

Bob

 

[Alan Heeley]

Good morning, Alan;

An old barn find A modern day parable? is a long poem and that's good.

I can't help but feel this reminds me of who God made of me when I was young at 18. I thought I was perfect, strong, agile, happy and single. A lot of things went my way and my problems were few. I had a job, a car that ran, a few bucks in my pocket and a large family for support. When I went to Church on Sundays I felt I must be good with God. Everything was in place.

Little did I know, so much was lacking in my life and heart regarding people. I didn't think too much about other people's suffering, only my own since my problems were few. I learned faith at a very young age but didn't know how to apply it in the right places.

But as God began to reveal His purpose for me He also matured me as more people crossed my path. Why was that?
I ran into circumstances that required the initiative to deal with and manage. Though my Dad, Mom or family were still in my life they couldn't solve my issues for me.

As my life and marriage took us in a new age and direction, I began to feel the growing challenges included relating what other people were going through in life, health, finances including their faith and dwelling place.

Slowly, this was the beginning of knowing God's Sanctuary, or the "barn" where I can seek God, His Love and refuge.

Today I've learned more and more about the way I see people of all ages, engaging and relating to their lives. Areas of my life may now be considered vintage. But within that vintage, how can I offer new areas of quality love and service to others?

God bless you, Alan. These are my thoughts from reading your poem.

Bob

Thank you so much for sharing it’s really good to hear other’s experiences,
That my words provoke others to remember