Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8.
Except
A Poem by Bruce Logue
You won’t find obligations in a jail cell
There is no negotiation
No contract is signed or pledge given
In a prison, rules are imposed
A code of conduct, violation is punished
Freedom is a foreign word, here
Obligation and owe are contractual words
Buy a car and sign the agreement
A binding promise to pay back the cost
Quid pro quo is the governing principle
Lawful societies define the boundaries with rules
Do this and we’ll give you that
Relationships often run on this rail
As long as you do this, I’ll be your friend
But do that and I am outta here
“Owe no one anything” is a nuclear option
All rules are off with this one
Or maybe not
Owe no one strips everything down to your promise
Let your yes be yes and your no be no
No playing around or prevaricating
Do what you say.
Be what you are.
No one has to guess because it is certain.
In such a world there’d be no surprises
“I love You” could be taken seriously
Conflict would be solved rather than fled
There would be no cold shoulder
Or snarky words
Only affirmation of love
Owe no one anything, Jesus said.
The only obligation comes from the cross
And from a Jesus lifted high on its beams.