When Lot's Wife

Lot loved the pace, the buzz, the lights,

the place in the shade by the ancient gate.

A valley lovely, chosen, given,

an easy walk to the corner bar.

They were heathen, boisterous, many,

not so comfortably unfamiliar.

He was grayer, with daughters betrothed,

dreaming of grandchildren on his knee.

One day like others, pleasant, hopeful,

there in the shade by the ancient gate,

came two strangers, striding, handsome,

who seemed to know him, very strange.

They gave a warning, urgent, frightening,

gather your family and leave right now.

But laughing, teasing, disrespectful,

his daughter's betrothed would not go.

Evening came quickly, deep darkness, worries,

which frightened Lot by the ancient gate.

Convinced the strangers, inside, right now,

We'll leave tomorrow after packing our things.

Then gathered a large mob, young men, old men,

The entire town seemed crazed with lust.

Send out the strangers! Do it! Quickly!

Prove old man that you're one of us.

Driven by tradition, to welcome, to protect,

Lot went outside by the ancient gate.

Please take my daughters, lovely, virgins,

his desperate bargain fell on deaf ears.

Out of the way! Unlock it! We'll smash it!

The strangers grabbed Lot and pulled him inside.

Zap! came a bright light, blindness, confusion,

Several more hours until morning would arrive.

At dawn they were leaving, the couple, the daughters,

fast to the mountains past the ancient gate.

But Lot pleaded old bones, a village, much shorter,

the strangers said hurry, don't even look back.

The sky became darkness, with fire, and brimstone,

earth was like Hell in the once verdant plain.

And a strong wind was chasing, boiling, salty,

encrusted the woman who stopped in her tracks.

Approaching the village, the father, the daughters,

standing outside by it's ancient gate.

Would this place be next?, Lot wondered, he worried,

must leave for the mountains before it's too late.

So onward they traveled, arrived there, exhausted,

and set up a tent in a place by itself.

Alarmed by the prospect, without men, no families,

the daughters conspired and got father drunk.

At this point dear children, please listen, remember,

you each have a place by an ancient gate.

Your cities are lovely, thriving, sweet customs,

But judgment is coming more sooner than late.

Will dawn find you anxious, praying, or running,

are things all that different from Sodom and Gomore?

Is your life in Jesus, reborn, different,

or are you like the woman who stopped to look back?