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here I stand

laden with your gifts

for you have given me

every good and needful thing

that I might live for you.

here I stand

the world beneath my feet

poised between two choices:

a life of privilege or of service?

a life of pleasure or of love?

here I stand

high upon a mountain-top

while a slick tongue whispers

"you have worked hard,

you deserve it,

a little bit more won't hurt,

live it up,

why not?

Jump, and you'll not be hurt

Eat, and you'll not grow fat

Take, and you'll not be tainted,

for all these lovely things

I give you now,

if you'll worship me."

Here I stand

poised between two choices

to consume your gifts like cotton-candy

with which to line my empty soul

or,

cherish life like precious manna,

bread which must be shared

among my fellow beggars

lest

it turns to dust.

[Kristin Jack is the Asia Coordinator of Servants. He and his family lived in Cambodia for 17 years. A book of his poetry, entitled 'Poetry and Prophecy' is available from Servants.]