Threes

Convention was stunning... in so many ways.  I*m sure I*ll write more about that later.  But this was the Gospel passage at Convention Eucharist this morning.  We are all used to thinking of Peter as an impetuous doofus, yet he figures up front in the Gospels.  He denies Jesus three times (at least), and has to reassure Jesus three times that he will feed Jesus*sheep.  What is it with threes?  I often need to hear things a few times before they sink in.  And then there are my three seizures, carefully spaced nine months apart, so maybe finally I*ll get the message, some message to pay attention.  One didn*t do it.  Two didn*t do it.  I have learned so much the third time around.  Maybe just maybe God works in threes.

I wonder if God

Works in threes.

Saying something once

Just doesn*t

Seem to do it

For any of us.

Face it

We*re all

Like Peter.

Even those of us

Who don*t leap

Out of boats.

Peter, do you love me?

(Of course, I do)

Feed my sheep.

Peter, do you love me?

(Yes Lord, you know I do)

Feed my lambs.

Peter, do you love me?

(Yes, yes, yes)

See those sheep over there?

Feed them!

Threes.

Three denials

Three questions

God three but really

One.

Most often it takes me

Three times

To hear

What God might be saying.

Once I get something set

In my head,

I need to hear

No

No

No

Before I believe

I might possibly

Be wrong.

I wonder if God works in threes.

I wonder if somehow we are set

For threes.