IT CAN REALLY GET OUT OF HAND
[Cockney]
Oh look,
A little Miracle!
That’s nice.
I was just hoping for a little miracle.
Not too big mind you,
Not too big to fit in with my neat life.
Just a little one I can fit on that gap on my shelf,
Between the Harry Potter books and the rubiks cube.
It’s nice to have a little miracle just for me.
I can take it out now and then,
To prove I’m spiritual.
I really won’t need more,
Well, maybe I could fit in a few more little miracles.
But you don’t want a big one that changes your plans.
Miracles can really get out of hand.
[Soft Aussie]
Oh look,
A little bit of Love!
Quick, grab a jar for it.
You don’t want too much Love,
That could get icky.
Just enough to keep for yourself,
Not for anyone else.
Right, now shove the Love in the jar,
Put some holes in the lid so that bit of Love can breathe,
Feed it some compliments and pat it now and then.
But don’t let the Love out of the jar.
Love can really get out of hand.
[Hard Intellectual]
Oh look,
A little bit of Truth!
Ain’t it cute?
I like a little bit of Truth,
Not too much or it can get in the way of things.
But a little bit of Truth like that one,
It’s nice.
Quick, grab a book,
Shove it in the book,
A thick theological book will do fine,
But keep that book closed.
Keep it closed tight.
Let the truth set you free just enough.
But the Truth gets out you never know who it will hurt.
Truth can really get out of hand.
[Fun & Camp]
Oh look,
A little bit of God!
Quick, grab a box.
Be careful now,
You don’t want too much,
That can get messy.
But just get that little bit of God,
And put it in a box.
Keep the bit of God in the box in a cupboard,
Get it out now and then when you’re sad.
Talk to it in private, but never mention it in public,
Cos you don’t want God getting out.
God can really get out of hand.
[Australian Serious]
Oh look,
A shiny bit of Jesus!
That’s nice,
I’ll have that.
I can keep it under my bed.
Not too much of Jesus, mind you,
Not a bit of Jesus that makes demands,
Not a bit of Jesus that asks me to stop looking at porn,
Not a bit of Jesus that asks for my time,
Not a bit of Jesus that makes me say sorry or change my ways,
Not a bit of Jesus that asks me to give stuff away,
Not a bit of Jesus that welcomes immigrants or helps the poor,
Not a bit of Jesus that asks me to love people with a different vision of sexuality.
Just a shiny little bit of Jesus,
That tells me everything’s gunna be fine.
But not all of Jesus,
Not a Jesus who’s bigger than me.
Not a glorious risen transcendent Jesus.
Not a Jesus who claims me.
Not a Jesus who runs the show.
Not a Jesus who is Lord.
Just a little bit.
Because,
Jesus can really get out of hand!
– Matthew Thiele, April 2021
