Don't grumble at grace.

Haiku of generosity

Not a rule book for

industrial relations;

this vineyard story.

It is about grace;

an eccentric employer,

a generous wage.

He paid them the same,

the ones who worked all day long,

and those who came late.

They grumble. The ones

who laboured through the day’s heat

felt badly done by.

Did you not agree

on the usual day’s wage?

That’s what you received.

Don’t grumble at grace

when it is shown to others:

celebrate with them!

Is God eccentric

like the man with the vineyard?

Most definitely!

© Ken Rookes 2020

Harassed and helpless

Harassed and helpless

Haiku for labourers

Are they any less

harassed and helpless, the crowds

of the lost, today?

Caught up in the lies

and the dodgy promises

of fear peddlers.

Sheep without shepherds,

with none to watch over them,

and no-one who cares.

We care about you,

they cry, those seeking profit,

those craving power.

He sent out the twelve.

They are lost, they are fearful;

Touch their lives with love.

Tell them, The kingdom

is coming near. Share good news,

bring healing and hope.

© Ken Rookes 2020

The politics of resentment.

Haiku of generosity

A new parable

to illustrate the kingdom,

turning things on end.

Vineyard labourers

hired in groups through the day;

get the harvest in.

Some worked twelve hours,

some laboured for only one.

Pay them what is fair.

The last are paid first.

They get a full day’s wages.

A happy surprise!

The twelve-hour workers

rub hands in expectation;

but get basic wage.

The grumble is great.

Quit whingeing says the vintner;

it’s what we agreed.

If I deal freely

with my money, that’s my choice;

why should you complain?

Others might get more

than they deserve, that’s all right.

Be happy for them.

This story disturbs,

offends our sense of justice.

Best to ignore it.

(We all take offence

when those who don’t deserve it

receive more than us.)

© Ken Rookes 2017

The harvest is great

He travelled about,

teaching in their synagogues,

proclaiming good news.

Jesus wept for them:

like sheep without a shepherd,

helpless and harrassed.

Call out to the Lord,

more labourers are needed;

the harvest awaits.

So much to be done

to bring peace, healing, wholeness,

forgiveness and hope.

The time had arrived.

He called the twelve together,

gave them the challenge.

Heal, bring life and love,

show them the kingdom is near.

Teach them about God.

Do it in my name.

Show God's generosity,

don't expect payment,

Bring in the harvest;

gather the people who love

into the kingdom.

© Ken Rookes 2017

Queue jumpers

Jesus, spinner of many improbable

and awkward yarns,

once told a story about vineyard workers.

The workforce grew steadily

as more pickers were recruited

at various points throughout the day.
In the end, the undeserving latecomers

are treated with generosity,

while the twelve-hour labourers

merely get what is fair.

The indignation engendered

by the travelling teacher man

sees his polite audience shaking their heads

in disbelief.

And with the way he put his tale together,

the heat-of-the-day workers,

can’t even complain that the lucky ones

are queue-jumpers.

We, who are theologically informed,

understand that this story is all about divine grace,

improbable and outrageous.

Two millennia on

such generosity still offends.

Unless, of course, it is extended to ourselves.

We, as everyone can see,

are deserving.

© Ken Rookes 2014

Because no one had hired us

Because no one had hired us

we stood around all day

waiting, yarning. We watched as

landowners came and went,

striking deals and gathering their labour.

We could have thrust ourselves forward,

but we didn’t. The day was hot;

it would be cooler tomorrow.

At five, the shadows were starting to grow

long and it was pleasantly cool

when the landowner arrived.

(We had watched him come

and go throughout the day,

recruiting teams for his vineyard.)

Seems he still had grapes that needed picking.

Would we come?

We shrugged our collective shoulders.

Only an hour, but it might pay

for a cup of wine on the way home.

So we went,

picked a few baskets before the sun

finally withdrew its rays,

and lined up with the rest of them.

You wouldn’t believe it,

but he paid us late-comers first,

and gave us the full twelve hours!

He paid everyone the full twelve hours.

You’d need a knife to get the smiles

of our faces, but the six o’clock crowd

didn’t get the joke at all.

I’m coming back tomorrow!

© Ken Rookes