Today I was asked for a copy of a poem that I wrote in July 1997 that appeared in a local newsletter.
Here is the poem:
The Leaven of the Spirit
Lord, You are the bread of life.
Make me, Lord, a slice of thee;
May life for me be Spirit filled -
The leaven swelling up in me.
The silent unseen working
Transforming lazy flour
Into holy air-filled bubbling life;
Risen, baked, and given power!
So life no longer is a loaf
Of wasted energy.
Lord, may the crumbs I leave behind,
Draw other souls to Thee.
-- Lionel Hartley 22/7/97
Happy reading. A number of people have asked if they can use quotes from my Blog in church bulletins or newsletters. Permission is granted provided credit is given to: Dr Lionel Hartley, www.hartleyonline.blogspot.com
Profile
- Lionel Hartley
- Born in New Zealand of English parentage, Lionel D C Hartley worked as an office and theatre manager and commercial artist while gaining qualifications in Business Administration and an honorary diploma in Dramatic Art. In the 1970s, he graduated as a Registered Nurse with subsequent postgraduate qualifications in Psychiatric and Psychopaedic Nursing, Nursing Nutrition and Administration, Sex Therapy and Family Life Counselling. In 1980, he graduated from a Melbourne Theological Seminary with a Diploma of Religion and in 1989 received a PhD in Sociology. He also has qualifications in graphic design, computer programming, business law, accountancy and economics. He is perhaps best known as the author, co-author, editor, and/or illustrator of over 100 books and hundreds of periodical articles, pamphlets and multimedia publications. He retired after 30 years as a family life counsellor. Lionel is still very involved in campanology, writing, manuscript translating (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Latin, and Portuguese), and public speaking. He is married to Rosemary (nee Wells) and they have three grown children. -- Adapted from a profile written by Theo B Hawkins.