Originally posted ON BY LONA GYNT. Doing a rerun.
Orphan Shoe
Searched all night
For lambs lost.
For coins
Whole joint was tossed.
But cobblers know
Neither flock nor treasure.
Upon what base
Was fit my measure?
Born of neither
Gold or nursing mother,
I was lost.
You just shrugged,
Sat down
And stitched another
···
Lona Gynt, June 2018
Copyright, All rights for text and photos reserved to Lona Gynt, June 2018.
Addendum: 6-30-2019. This poem was written as a reflection on the now rescinded Policy of Exclusion regarding children of homosexual couples in my church. This morning I found a tender and insightful post about that policy, In an effort to help us remember and perhaps make further progress I am posting a link to Andrew’s post.
Remember the 5th of November: The LDS LGBT Exclusion Policy & Its Reversal
Scattered thoughts made a little more random 
I love the poem, my own journey in Christian denominations has left me bruised in many ways, the institution of the church is so removed from a clear and contextual interpretation of texts, I hope LGBT+ people will find inclusion, acceptance and love wherever they attend.
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a worthy hope, and striving. Thank you Paul,
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Yes, keep striving, though I weep at the irony of the antithesis – these groups preach love!
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True. We see in this that we all can be very good at love at some level but at other times, since we are all fallible, we all can also be really bad at it, I think that is where the grace we receive and give is needed, and it makes all the difference.
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It sure does Lona.
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It’s interesting how all these rigid rules get bent when it’s convenient to church leaders. No religion is the same as it was even 100 years ago, let alone when it was founded. It changes with context just like everything else. (K)
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Hopefully the arc of those changes over time will reflect more love out into the world
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I hope so too Lona.
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So very beautiful and heartfelt, Lona. It’s quite a moving piece and I can feel that conflict and culmination in the lines:
“Upon what base
Was fit my measure?
Born of neither
Gold or nursing mother,
I was lost.”
It’s so powerful to me.
I hope as well this reversal of the policy brings a change of more acceptance and love into the world, where people do not have to feel excluded for who they love. Like Andrew, though, it’s a numbing feeling if this will truly lead to such change in the churches. I do not know much of the bible admittedly, but God loves all of his people which is something I turn to when religious establishments turn away LGBT+ in such ways. It’s great the original policy was reversed, but it’s only one step among many before true change and acceptance can happen, at least in my opinion.
Apologies for the long paragraph here, I just wanted to say I resonate with your piece and find it beautifully weaved with exquisite, thought provoking imagery. ❤
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Thank you Lucy. I really appreciate this tender and thoughtful response. And I am glad you mentioned Andrews’s excellent piece. “One step among many” yes that is true. Thank you friend.
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