First Church of Otago

LESSONS FROM THE PEEBLE

For over fifty years I have taught Speech and Drama as a hobby.  Poetry has always been  important to me, so a poetic contribution this month which may be worth thinking about.

 Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone;

but there’s half a hundred ripples circling on and on and on,

spreading, spreading from the centre, flowing on out to the sea.

And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,

but there’s little waves a-flowing, and there’s ripples circling yet,

and those little waves a-flowing to a great big wave have grown;

you’ve disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute it is gone;

but there’s half a hundred ripples circling on and on and on.

They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the centre as they go,

and there’s no way to stop them, once you’ve started them to flow.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute you forget;

but there’s little waves a-flowing, and there’s ripples circling yet,

and perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you’ve stirred,

and disturbed a life was happy where you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness, just a flash and it is gone;

but there’s half a hundred ripples circling on and on and on,

bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave

till you wouldn’t believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;

but there’s gladness still a-swelling, and there’s joy circling yet,

and you’ve rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard

over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.

Shalom, Graeme Munro

SUNDAY SERVICES AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF OTAGO

10am Morning Worship

12 Noon Cook Islands Service

2.00pm Samoan Service

10.00am Combined Communion first Sunday in March, June, September and December