Fellow-ship

by Rebecca Huseby

Ever see someone in a bad way and you’d really like to help, but they don’t seem to want your help?  That happens when pride gets in the way of judgment … like not asking for directions (I purposefully did not mention a specific gender here) … it usually leads to a less than desirable finale!

Read the poem and ask yourself which of these two travelers you would rather be. Then, be that traveler!

 “Fellow-ship”

(By Rebecca J. Huseby............Jan. 15, 2006)

A stranger I met on the road one day,

A burden upon the strong back lay,

And though I offered to share his load,

He knew me not, refused my help, and left me in the road!

A time went by, I walked alone,

And hummed a tune and skipped a stone,

‘Til in the distance, I saw once more,

The stranger that I once had met, and tried to help before!

As I drew close, I heard him cry,

His labored breath, a muted sigh,

His back no longer strong, but weak,

And as I neared, he turned and sneered, and drew a breath to speak!

“Why do you gape and stare at me,

My load has grown, as you can see,

And though I’ve not the strength to bear,

I will not ask this loathsome task, a stranger with me share!

I stayed beside him as we went,

Until his strength completely spent,

He nearly fell, I caught him just

Before the load slipped to the road and he fell in the dust!

“As this be such a heavy weight,

And, look! The hour is growing late,

Please let me break the load in two,

And this will be the part for me, and that the part for you!”

I caught his eyes in the fading light,

He saw a glimmer of “hope” in sight,

As he slowly, painfully lowered his pack,

And he and I, in the gathering twilight, took each his loaded sack.

Now both our backs are slightly bowed,

But shared by two, this cumbersome load,

Is not the burden that it was,

True “Fellowship” demands – by hand – that Fellowship is as Fellowship does.