Where I'm From

If you have been in worship this past month of August, you may have seen various poems around the Sanctuary and Narthex. We wanted to provide a spot where we can feature this longer, and for those who worship with us online, which is right here on our website. Earlier this year at our leadership retreat, we began a discipline of sharing more intimately and vulnerably. That practice has helped us know one another in new and deeper ways.  By using a “mad lib”esque, fill in the blank template, many of our leadership have written their own personal, “Where I’m From” poems.  Several shared them at our retreat and since then we’ve shared them at the start of Admin Council and elders meetings.  Tears have been shared together.  New connections have been made.  We are knowing one another beyond “everyday associations” (to use Bonhoeffer’s words.) So, you are asking, what’s a “Where I’m From” poem?  What does that even mean? Well, here are some of the ones we gathered from our retreat and are currently featuring in Community. Read some, gather insight and inspiration, and we invite you to join and write your own. If you scroll to the end of this column, you’ll find the template to create your own. As always, we gather in Community to seek the radical, inclusive love of God. Writing and sharing these poems has become one of the many ways we are able to do so.

Tara Wolfe

I am from Jungle Gyms, from Hamburger Helper and Atari Video Games.

I am from the house that my dad built in a neighborhood with big backyards and no fences.

I am from the Zinnias and Marigolds in the Garden and the Maple trees in the yard.

I am from Thanksgiving Dinner on my Birthday, and Christmas Eve drives to look at the lights while Santa delivered the gifts, and Education was the most important, from Fred and Modine and the Chickadonz and Wolfe families.

I am from “put others first” and ask questions and be inquisitive. From “make your bed” and “finish your supper.”

I am from the Methodist Church.

I’m from Kansas City, Kansas and German heritage, Grilled Hamburgers and Roast on Sundays.

From the stay-at-home mom, the dad who was a teacher and the older sister who made sure to not baby me.

I am from shoe boxes of family pictures in the hall closet and the current school picture on the fridge.

I am from unlocked backdoors, from a Levi’s jean jacket and Dairy Queen and Pizza Hut.

I am from flat land and straight roads where neighbors wave and stop to help.

I am from golden wheat, cattle pastures, and sunflowers growing wild in the ditch.

I am from supper around the table, and working women, good cooks and silver hair. From Gary and Marilyn, and Mark and Doris, and Dorothy.

I am from early risers and roll up your sleeves doers. From “be home before dark” and “stick together”.

I am from hard pews, pot luck dinners, Jesus Loves Me, and church camp.

I’m from Anthony, Kansas, a silver water tower, 3-stoplight town where everyone knew I was one of the Puls girls.

From homemade noodles and sand plum jelly. From sweeping up sawdust and picking up nails, family road trips and tailgate picnics, and dragging Main and drive-in movies.

I am from stories that get better with time, recipes collected in a family cookbook and slide photographs. Generational connections to land and neighbors. Deep roots that ground me to my spot on the map. A small-town girl who made her way in the world knowing she could always come home.

Jan Jones

Scott Duschen

I am from black dirt and corn fields

From Burma Shave signs and John Deere tractors

And wasp nests in our clothesline poles

I am from a house my grandfather built

I am from the neighbor’s raspberry bushes with the sweetest fruit ever

I am from the green apple tree in the back lot that made me sick when I ate too many

I am from root beers floats after my father’s fastpitch softball games and visits to relatives in the countryside, one even had an outhouse

From Bill and Gloria, my sister Lori and Grandma Ruth who lived to be 99 and told me to always take care of my teeth since she had dentures

From clean your plate and do your chores

I am from the First Presbyterian church of Waterloo, Iowa, where my grandmother was a member for over 75 years. My father was an elder there and I’ve attended too many funerals at that church.

I am from photos on the dresser that remind me of the wonderful family I grew up in and how much I miss all of them

Now… We invite you to write your own. If you would like to submit it to be featured in our sanctuary, you can send it to our Ministry Support Assistant, Audrey Culver, who would be happy to format and print it! You can contact her at audrey@community-christian.org


Here is the template with the original poem by George Ella Lyon.

https://c4kc.cc/Poem

your turn