He Bade Me Come To Eat With Him

He bade me come to eat with him, to sit

But no - imagination had me mired

Everyday fare was not what I desired

I am a glutton, that much I admit

O to be filled with what would never spoil

My appetites engulf me in much turmoil

For ceaseless shapes and much variety

Of food - for this I give my sanity

He bade me come to eat with him, to sit

And taste his food, but no - I call to mind

The time I spent back when, in worlds beneath,

I had much delicacy. I was blind,

No bridle to my appetite, no bit

Only the meat that was between my teeth

Now judgment, yet my mind scarce takes it in

That you see self-deception as a sin.

-----

His table was spread with honey and with wheat

I tested him saying, "Where Lord is the meat?

Where is your power here in my wilderness?"

I am a rebel, that much I confess

O to be overflowing the rim

Of me; you see, his love is often dim

to me. Tis true, I crave sublimity

Of food - for this I give my energy

He bade me come to eat with him, to sit

and see his good but no - so much I crave

What satisfaction I could have, what art

I could contrive with which my heart to lave!

Trust is a lamp that I have never lit

A wanton wanting ever was my part

Considering not your power, not taking in

That you see self-indulgence as my sin.

-----

There was a cup, there was a loaf of bread

But to far countries I did go instead

For fancy menus, fare I judged as fit

I am a sinner, this much I admit

O to be washed in unending senses

Brilliant colour, food and lenses

By wine now I see and yet see strangely

Redness takes all - I chase this endlessly

He bade me come to eat with him, to sit

But no - no, yes - I would pull up a chair

If I could stand - you understand, I try

To stagger, limping, in a shaking fit

I fell again - does he count on my care?

Through bile and blood and bruise I see him cry

Where I have woken up I do begin

To see that self-destruction comes with sin.

------

Here at this table he sees me through

My broken appetites and shattered mind

By chasing umpteen lies I had grown blind

But in his steadfast love my joy grows true

O to be filled with simple fare, with bread

And not pursue a death by folly fed

I rushed for love that never kept its form

I was a leaf blown by an endless storm

He bade me come to eat with him, to sit

And taste his food - yes, God yes, what you give

Will never fade, never die, never end

Zacchaeus teach me that this one I live

With will never his love cease or remit

So I renounce old ways and start to rend

You are the bread, you are the life, I see

In this is freedom, in simplicity. 

-----

From heav'n above fell bread that cost no fee

To morph my appetites and shattered mind

For chasing umpteen lies had made me blind 

Now by believing I am being set free

O to be fed with this bread day to day

Knowing that sweet sameness keeps mis'ry at bay

I was a leaf blown about in a storm

Yet now by discipline I grow in form

He bade me come to eat with him, to see

That with his manna comes such sweet accord

As at that dinner breaking bread did mean

Sweet fellowship, so on that wooden board

His body broke that sinners being made clean

Could know of peace and favour endlessly.

Now by remembrance daily I receive

His love and wholeness as I do believe.