Boxing—Zack Eswine
"Maybe, just this once, I’ll take a dive..."
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[Editor’s note: We’re excited to share Zack Eswine’s poem “Boxing” for several reasons. First, like Zack’s books and sermons, it is full of humility, candor, realism, and wisdom. Secondly, it is a chance to tell you about Zack’s upcoming lecture at the Rabbit Room’s North Wind Manor (livestream available for Rabbit Room members) on Tuesday, January 16.]
Sign Up for the Lecture
Jesus’s Artistry of Doubt—Zack Eswine
Description: Jesus tells stories in such a way we who doubt recognize our own troubling experiences and find surprising pathways to faith. In this lecture, Dr. Zack Eswine will walk us through a close reading of some of Christ's parables in order to draw our attention to the ways Jesus uses stories to give those who doubt hospitable language to find their way to deepening faith.
When and Where: Tuesday, January 16. North Wind Manor (3321 Stephens Hill Ln, Antioch, TN 37013, USA). Doors open at 7:00 pm. The lecture starts at 7:30 pm.
Tickets:
Now on to the poem.
Boxing
by Zack Eswine
This bell, my alarm, sounds. This morning, my corner of the ring, begins. This day, my opponent, war cries in the center, of this taunting crowd motioning for me, with gloves raised. This life, roped in, a bucket for my spit. This clock, my referee, grates upon my ears and shouts, “its time.” It’s only round one. But already I’m thinking about it, feeling it. Maybe, just this once, I’ll take a dive, no bribes necessary, we just count to ten. This spectacle would end, and we could all go home.
Zack Eswine (Rev. Ph.D.), serves as lead pastor of Riverside Church in Webster Groves, Missouri. Zack's books include Recovering Eden: The Gospel According to Ecclesiastes and The Imperfect Pastor and he writes poems and stories at The Good Dark.
Zack and his wife Jessica co-founded Sage Christianity (sagechristianity.com) to create hospitable spaces for bringing honest questions into conversation with the wisdom of Jesus.
